Lots of Things to Know About Bugs

Gr 1-4–As this book’s title states, there are a lot of things to know about bugs. For one, the term “bugs” encompasses more than just insects—it also includes spiders, woodlice, and myriapods. Near the book’s beginning, an “incredible bug sorter” distinguishes the invertebrate relatives clearly and quickly by the number of legs they have. After this brief exposition, each page contains an easily located piece of guide text in bold, such as “You’ll never guess why fireflies glow” or “Welcome to the bug fashion show!,” preceding a collection of colorful images of bugs accompanied by textual tidbits. The best way to enjoy this densely detailed book is to pick a page and dive in rather than expecting a unitive narrative arc. One page contends with the relative pain levels of different bug bites, while another examines the intricacies of bee communication. A termite mound cross-section precedes a fanciful conveyor belt staffed by bugs that break plant matter down into nutrient-rich soil. A pair of egg-shaped blue characters offer editorial asides; while observing millipedes, one exclaims “Imagine how long it would take to put on that many shoes!” Colorful, detailed illustrations are styled just cartoonishly enough to feel playful without oversimplifying the subject matter.