FICTION

Don't Bug the Insects

by Ben RICHMOND
32p. glossary. photos. Sterling. Jun. 2017. Tr $12.95. ISBN 9781454921370.
COPY ISBN
Gr 2–5—Engaging stock photographs introduce myriad insects ranging from butterflies to mosquitoes. Readers learn basic facts about various species and their diet, location, predators, and prey. The book is filled with close-up images of each insect and narrated in the first person by the various bugs ("Hi, I'm a dragonfly, and if you hate mosquitoes, you should be nice to me!"). Interesting factoids follow: "I can eat as much as a fifth of my own body weight." The author stresses bugs' role as vital contributors to our environment and includes a section on how to be kind to them. The white font stands out against the pictures, but the lengthy text may be challenging for some readers. Although earthworms are important, their cameo here makes little sense.
VERDICT Add where general information on insects is needed. For avid bug watchers, recommend Seymour Simon's Insects instead.
Reviewed by Melissa Smith, Royal Oak Public Library, MI
Larger-than-life close-up photographs on bright pages encourage readers to observe minute characteristics of sixteen different types of insects. The goal is to alleviate potential fear of these commonly misunderstood creatures (including spiders, mosquitoes, and wasps), but the animals adopt an odd, friendly first-person narration to describe themselves. Additional facts about ants and bees are included on slightly longer spreads. Glos.
 , Jul 01, 2017

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