Review by Booklist Review
With a conversational text and vividly colored photomicrographs, this eye-catching title makes entomology exciting and accessible. A framing narrative device that invites readers to join the FBI (as a Fellow Bug Investigator) and find out about the most wanted suspects feels unnecessary; the facts about insects form a gripping story on their own. The numbers are astonishing (there are almost 150 million insects for every human), and so is the visual detail, as in the full-page, close-up view of the house fly's large compound eye, composed of hundreds of tiny lenses. Bugs play an essential role in the ecology of the planet, and most are harmless to humans, like the adorable water strider, shown in a magnified image of its legs as it walks on water. But mosquitoes are considered one of the deadliest animals on earth, with 20 species that carry malaria. Open the spacious book anywhere, and the photos and facts will grab readers and make them want to read more. A long glossary and a list of suggested reading closes this good choice for researchers, browsers, and reluctant readers alike.--Rochman, Hazel Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Siy and Kunkel put a tongue-in-cheek spin on entomology, with dramatically magnified specimens presented in "Wanted" posters that make use of photomicrographs, taken through a scanning electron microscope and then colorized. "Fascinating, flashy, or felonious" beetles have been known to consume museum artifacts, but their carrion ways are actually a big help: "[A]nimals and plants die from accidents, disease, and old age just like people. Someone needs to clean up the mess." While Siy has fun casting various insect species, like the "malaria-carrying" Anopheles mosquito, as criminals, she also makes clear their value in pollination, pest control, and other beneficial traits. The neon-hued extreme closeups of compound eyes, antennae, and other insect features make this both a clever and useful science book. Ages 6-10. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-6-Insects are virtually on trial in this unusual introduction. The book begins by suggesting that readers "Join the FBI-become a Fellow Bug Investigator"-study the insects' "mug shots," read their "rap sheets," and decide if they are good or bad. After offering general information on classification, anatomy, numbers of species, etc., successive chapters focus on the "suspects," comprised of five large insect groups: true bugs; beetles; butterflies and moths; bees, ants, and wasps; and true flies. Each chapter describes the group's outstanding characteristics, as well as the distinctive physical and/or behavioral characteristics of representative species, their diet, harmful or beneficial effects on humans, and so on. The title concludes by declaring the malaria-transmitting mosquito "guilty" and honeybees "innocent," and suggests further avenues for study. Photomicrographs of the insects or body parts illustrate the text on every page; all are brightly colored to highlight anatomical features. Extended captions offer additional information and cite the rate of magnification. The text is clearly written, and the photomicrographs are remarkably detailed (the hairs on a water strider's leg are magnified more than 2000 times in one photo). While CSI-obsessed kids might enjoy this different way of learning about insects, the arch tone wears a tad thin and seems at odds with the hyperscientific images. Noel Tait's Insects & Spiders (S & S, 2008) and Diane Swanson's Bugs Up Close (Kids Can, 2007) are more straightforward introductions.-Karey Wehner, formerly at San Francisco Public Library (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Sneeze, 2007, etc.) begins with her thesis, pointing out that in the insect world there are both good and bad guys. How can we tell the difference? The rest of this lighthearted survey is organized in chapters devoted to true bugs, beetles, butterflies and moths, bees, ants and wasps and, finally, true flies. In lively, informal prose, she describes some typical insect behavior, describing not just the harm they do but also the good. "Could insects be getting a bad rap?" A last chapter suggests that young people interested in insects can collect them without harming them using a digital camera. Kunkel colors his signature photomicrographs to highlight structures shown, and they are stunning. Each image has an informative label that includes its magnification. The design also includes tiny grayscale images that careful observers may be able to identify as housefly, bedbug, ladybird beetle, nasonia wasp and some kind of moth or butterfly. Readers unfamiliar with giant water bugs and water striders, lace bugs, pepper weevils, carrion beetles and other creatures will be bugged by the lack of unmagnified pictures of most of the species shown. Striking as they are, as mug shots these bug shots don't work. (Nonfiction. 8-12)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
