Review by Booklist Review
After a brief introduction extolling the diversity and anatomy that define and identifies insects, Worek gets to the task at hand, providing the common and Latin names of each subject before diving into short, factoid-laden paragraphs focused on the weirdest and most intricate insects found around the globe. There's no table of contents or even definitive groupings for the sequence in which the bugs appear. The photographs, however, take advantage of the spare layout, displaying our creepy-crawlies in all their odd glories. Some are jeweled, others translucent, and some are outright menacing, but the bright photographic depiction of each manages to be mesmerizing sharp, full-color close-ups showcase the knobby, extended neck of the giraffe-neck weevil and the textured red-and-black back of the red velvet ant (which surprise! is actually a wasp). Those fascinated by the lovely variety of the insect world will have plenty to dissect here.--Jones, Courtney Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-8-This stunning array of spectacular "bugs" is a companion volume to Erich Hoyt's equally eye-catching Weird Sea Creatures (Firefly, 2013). A gallery of brilliantly clear, color photos gives intimate, close-up looks at just 59 of the millions of insects crawling, flying, scurrying, and burrowing on our planet, but Worek's choices open up a visual treasure house of the class Insecta. From metallic armored beetles to lacy-winged flies to spiny caterpillars, the pictures glow on the crisp white pages. The book begins with a thoughtful introduction describing just what an "insect" is, and each photo is accompanied by a brief paragraph of various information-size, perhaps, or diet, global location, egg-laying proclivities, or habitat. This is not a book for in-depth research, but for the curious of mind and those with an understanding of biological diversity and evolutionary differentiation, it's a visual feast and-oh my-those pictures!-Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY (c) Copyright 2013. 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
In glittering, chitinous splendor, 59 insects, from an elegantly dappled Mexican dobsonfly to an 8-inch Macleay's spectre pose for close-ups in this eye-widening photo gallery. Arranged in no particular order and enlarged to roughly the same size, the cast of beetles, bugs, ants, mantids and caterpillars all seems to be sitting directly on the plain white pages, with pale shadows added and the occasional twig or bud for a prop. Nearly all not only bear vividly colored patterns or coats of shimmering armor, but display as astonishing an array of exotic forms as ever was--these bugs are decked out with baroque spikes, palps, antennae and other features. Worek supplies common and scientific labels for all this eye candy, as well as enough information on each subject's size, diet, geographical range and life cycle to please even larval entomologists. Resplendent. (index) (Informational picture book. 8-10)]]]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
