The Big Book of Bugs

By Author / Illustrator

Yuval Zommer

Genre

Adventure

Publisher

Thames & Hudson Ltd

ISBN

9780500650677

Format

Hardback

Published

21-03-2016

Synopsis

Introductory spreads explain that bugs live nearly everywhere on Earth and give tips on how to become a young bug spotter. The book is divided into key groups of bugs, including beetles, moths, butterflies, bees, snails, crickets, grasshoppers, worms and spiders, all illustrated with scenic compositions. Some spreads approach the world of bugs thematically, such as bugs that come out at night, baby creepy-crawlies and life cycles, how bugs hide and show off and how some bugs love to live in your home. The text is chatty, funny and full of amazing facts.

Reviews

This beautifully-produced book is teeming with life, exploring the world of bugs and their habitats. Each spread is full of small creatures in their natural habitats, with small sections of break-out text that explains what distinguishes that species and interesting facts about them (eg Does a centiped really have 100 legs?). It begins by telling us what are bugs and how to go about spotting them, before presenting the 'Bug Family Tree' - distinguishing insects, slugs and snails, spiders, centipedes and millipedes and worms. Each spread thereafter is dedicated to a particular kind of 'bug' including ladybirds, moths, ants, bees, crickets and centipedes, stick insects and so on. The painterly illustrations show them in their full glory with bright colours, textured backgrounds and lots of activity. We also find out about baby bugs, migrating bugs and not forgetting bugs in the house! Children are also shown how to encourage bugs into their gardens, and to learn the terminology of 'bugs', from body parts to predators. As well as being a useful book, it's a lovely one to look at and I can see children enjoying dipping in to its pages. 63 pages / Ages 6-10 years / Reviewed by Janet Sands.