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Life cycles

Richard Spilsbury - Author

This science book compares plant and animal life cycles, including plant reproduction, animal development, fieldwork investigations and a project to study a sunflower’s life cycle.

More about this book

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY: GENERAL INTEREST (CHILDREN'S / TEENAGE). Every living organism is born, reproduces and dies - this pattern is called a life cycle. Life Cycles takes a look at how different plant and animal species are created or born, grow to adulthood, reproduce and eventually die. The variations in life cycle patterns between species are explored, from sexual and asexual reproduction in plants through to the growth of young in eggs or within a uterus in animals. Fieldwork investigations show how to identify the stages of a life cycle and fascinating fact boxes offer and in-depth information on topics such as mating rituals. An activity project shows you how to create and study the life cycle of a sunflower. Ages 13+

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Book Analysis

At a Glance

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Plant and animal life cycles· ExplainedReproduction· ExplainedGrowth and death· Explained

Personalised Fit

Beyond the Cover

plant and animal life cyclesreproductiongrowth and death

Non-fiction

Themes in Context

Life cycles as biological processes

The book explains a life-cycle pattern and compares variations across plant and animal groups, with examples including plant reproduction and animal development.Exploratory / explanatory

How the book presents it: Its stated approach is informational: it organises examples to explain biological variation and includes investigations for identifying life-cycle stages.

Talk about: Which differences between the plant and animal examples does the book make clearest?

Why It May Be Worth Reading

Its comparative structure can help readers notice that life-cycle patterns differ between species, while the investigations and sunflower project invite practical observation alongside explanation.

What Deserves Attention

Reproduction is addressed directly, including plant sexual and asexual reproduction, animal development in eggs or a uterus, and fact-box coverage of mating rituals.

A Conversation Worth Having

How does the book show that life-cycle patterns differ among plants and animals, and which example would you like to investigate further?

Reading Approach

Read together in short sections; pause at the fact boxes to unpack unfamiliar terms, then try the sunflower activity if practical.

Confidence & Basis

Theme indicators describe how the book presents a topic; they are not a verdict on the whole book or your family's values. Confidence reflects how much book-specific material was checked. Only part of the book information was available, so some details remain unconfirmed.

What remains unconfirmed

Life cycles as biological processes: The precise balance of explanation, diagrams and activity guidance is not established.

Life Cycles - Richard Spilsbury - Google Books

Limited information

Checked: 1 October 2026.

Relevant to: Life cycles as biological processes

Life cycles by Richard Spilsbury | Open Library