Review by Booklist Review
Simon opens this attractive introduction to insects by explaining in a kid-friendly way how people commonly misidentify these animals. Referencing the scientific classification system, he clarifies why it's correct to refer to some insects (but not all) as bugs and why spiders aren't insects at all. After discussing insect metamorphosis, senses, numbers, and history, he introduces familiar members of a number of orders, from beetles, bees, wasps, and ants to butterflies and moths. A section of interesting factoids describes the Goliath beetle as about the weight of a good-sized hamburger. Each double-page spread includes one or more well-chosen color photographs, which are notable for their clarity, composition, and usefulness in illustrating points mentioned in the adjacent text. Like other Simon books, this one is readily identifiable by its large, square format, excellent photos, and large-print text. And like his other recent volumes, it includes a glossary, an index, and a brief list of online resources. Handsome and useful, here's a solid addition to science collections.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2016 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Prolific science writer Simon offers a clear, concise exploration of insects and their characteristics, accompanied by crisp nature photographs taken from stock sources. After providing some eye-opening details about insects' history on the planet and their current numbers-"about 200 million insects for every human on Earth"-he dives into the qualities that distinguish various orders, such as Coleoptera (beetles), Orthoptera (which includes crickets and grasshoppers), and Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies). It's chock full of intriguing details ("There are so many insects that just listing each kind would take thousands upon thousands of book pages") that will fascinate future entomologists. Ages 6-10. Agent: Wendy Schmalz, Wendy Schmalz Agency. (July) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Horn Book Review
In a continuous narrative tour of a variety of insect orders and species, Simon explains the wonders of insect anatomy, life cycles, their long presence on Earth, and their immense numbers. Common backyard insects receive additional attention. The excellent scientific information addresses numerous common misconceptions. Full-page photographs capture the range and beauty of insect species. Websites. Glos., ind. (c) Copyright 2017. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A photo essay invites young readers to explore the world of insects.Master science writer Simon knows how to craft nonfiction, choosing interesting topics, appropriate examples, and just the right level of information for elementary school readers. His newest title is no exception. Well-organized, lucid descriptions include the characteristics of insects, their body parts, life stages, size, numbers, history, and sensory equipment. He goes into further detail about five common orders: Coleoptera (beetles), Orthoptera (grasshoppers and crickets), Hymenoptera (bees and wasps), Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths), and Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies). He describes other insects that stand outstrangest, most beautiful, fastest, heaviest, longest, and smallestand concludes with the importance of insects in the world. Carefully chosen and beautifully reproduced photographs (most from Shutterstock) appear on each page. Vocabulary that might be unfamiliar is printed in boldface and defined in a glossary. Alas, in this otherwise splendid introduction, the author says "Butterflies and moths are similar in these ways:...Larvae form cocoons during the pupa stage before they emerge as adults." This is not true of most butterflies, which protect themselves as pupae with chrysalises. Scientists and teachers have been working to correct this common misconception, and young readers who know something about insects will recognize the mistake. (Indeed, the caption on the facing page says, "Butterfly emerges from chrysalis."Informative and appealingbut flawed. (index, websites) (Nonfiction. 6-10) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
