Big Bugs: SeeMore Readers Level 1 [Paperback]

Seymour Simon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 31, 2005 | Grade Level: P and up | Series: SeeMore Readers

SeeMore Readers are designed for every young reader. Large, bright pictures instantly engage readers in the subject. Exciting yet simple text provides the information that kids, parents, and teachers wantfrom key facts to fascinating trivia. Each Reader is a fun invitation to read, observe, and see more! Choose the level that's right for your child:
Level 1 - Beginning Readers: Grades PreK1 - Simple sentences present general information in easily read phrases.
Level 2 - Growing Readers: Grades 13 - Longer texts explore subjects in greater depth.
Level 3 - Independent Readers: Grades 24 - Full paragraphs examine more challenging concepts.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-3-These titles do not have many positive points beyond their famous author. Both of them have grainy and unclear photos, while the texts are dry and not substantial enough for reports. Bugs is definitely the stronger of the two. The information is better organized and offers limited but solid introductions to the giant water bug, the goliath beetle, and robber flies. A small box in the corner of most pages shows the actual size of the bug; however, once again this image is often difficult to decipher. Skyscrapers gives some basic facts and then mentions a few specific buildings such as the Transamerica Pyramid and the Sears Tower. However, the author switches between general information and individual buildings, which is frustrating and difficult to follow. Libraries are better off putting their money toward other needed and worthwhile books.-Lisa S. Schindler, Children's Librarian, Bethpage Public Library, NY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

K-Gr. 2. Simon says at the book's beginning that he is using the term bug to refer to "big insects, scorpions, and spiders that people often think of as bugs," implying but not stating that some of them are not actually bugs. Each double-page spread features one photograph of a creature along with several lines of text commenting on its physical characteristics and behaviors. One excellent graphic feature, often used here when the photo has been enlarged, is an inserted box showing the actual size of the animal with its body position identical to that shown in the main picture. Some of the photos are eye-catching and dramatic. In others, the form of the animal is hard to discern, particularly when the center of the picture disappears into the gutter of the side-sewn binding. This entry in the See More Reading series is recommended for larger collections. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 40 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (March 31, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1587172658
• ISBN-13: 978-1587172656
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.8 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,696,321 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Seymour Simon, whom the NY Times called "the dean of [children's science] writers," is the author of more than 250 highly acclaimed science books (many of which have been named Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children by the National Science Teachers Association). His free, educational children's app, SCIENCE FUN TO GO, debuted in the Top 10 of all free children's apps in the Amazon App store, and features in app purchase of original Seymour Simon eBooks, as well as a multitude of free content.

Seymour Simon uses his website, SeymourSimon.com, to provide free downloads of a wealth of materials for educators, homeschoolers and parents to use with his books, including 4-page Teacher Guides for all 26 of his Collins/Smithsonian photo essay books. The site provides multiple resources for kids writing book reports or wanting to explore the online Science Dictionary, and also features the Seymour Science blog highlighting current science news. Educators and families are encouraged to sign up to receive the monthly newsletter from SeymourSimon.com to stay abreast of the latest materials that Seymour Simon is introducing to enrich the reading experience.

He taught science and creative writing in elementary and secondary schools and was chair of the science department at a junior high school in the New York City public school system before leaving to become a full-time writer. "I haven't really given up teaching," he says, "and I suppose I never will, not as long as I keep writing and talking to kids around the country and the world."

Seymour Simon is also a creator and the author of a series of 3D books and a series of Glow-in-the-Dark Books for Scholastic Book Clubs, a series of leveled SEEMORE READERS for Chronicle Books, and the EINSTEIN ANDERSON, SCIENCE DETECTIVE series of fiction books. His books encourage children to enjoy the world around them through learning and discovery, and by making science fun. He has introduced tens of millions of children to a staggering array of subjects; one prominent science education specialist described Simon's books as "extraordinary examples of expository prose."

Seymour Simon has been honored with many awards for his work, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science/Subaru Lifetime Achievement Award for his lasting contribution to children's science literature; the New York State Knickerbocker Award for Juvenile Literature; the Hope S. Dean Memorial Award from the Boston Public Library for his contribution to children's science literature; The Washington Post/Children's Book Guild Award for Non-fiction; the Jeremiah Ludington Award for his outstanding contribution to children's nonfiction; the Empire State Award for excellence in literature for young people; and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Forum on Children's Science Books.

In a recent interview Simon was asked if he ever thinks of retiring. "I seem to be working faster and harder than ever. I absolutely don't feel any urge to sit back and look at what I've done. The only things that I'm thinking about are things I'd like to do in the future. I'm planning and doing and continuing to write. It's what I love to do. I remember a story about an anthropologist going to talk to a tribe and he asked them what was their word for "work." Their response was they have no word for work. Everybody does the things that they do in their life. I love that response. I don't differentiate between work and play. Everything I do is something that I enjoy doing - the writing, the research and everything else."

Seymour Simon writes and photographs nature from his hilltop home in Columbia County in upstate New York. You can follow his daily nature walks and see his photographs from the field on Twitter (@seymoursimon) or on his Facebook group page. He also regularly hosts Q&As and sponsors book giveaways on GoodReads.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting book, April 27, 2005

By 

J. Williams (Murphy, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Big Bugs: SeeMore Readers Level 1 (Paperback)

My Kindergartener is on Reading Level E in the Guided Reading system (early 1st grade). He thoroughly enjoyed the topic of this book, but it was a little challenging. We ended up taking turns reading the pages. (He read one, then I read the next.) The photos were incredible. He really enjoyed them. Sometimes he gets tired of reading practice because he really prefers science books to fiction books, so it was fun for him to read this book.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I want a big bug!, November 26, 2007

By 

Judy K. Polhemus "Book Collector" (Louisiana) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Big Bugs (See More Readers, Level 1) (Turtleback)

Look at that striking black background! It makes the green praying mantis stand out like a beauty queen. Now pick up some of the orange and yellow on its legs and head, put those in the title and you have a handsome cover. The cover says, Do you dare open me and see the wonders within? I hear a child's voice, Y-e-e-e-s!

Inside are all kinds of delicious bugs in great big close-ups! Children love these! The bigger and scarier the better. How about the spider in South America as large as an adult's hand and eats birds. Let me repeat: A spider eats birds. The atlas moth lives in Southeast Asia, does not have a mouth or eat, mates and dies--all in two weeks. The giant cockroach lives in South America, stinks so others won't eat him, but is kept as a pet!!

All this and more. A total of 16 bugs are displayed, located, and described. Each is given at least two striking facts to remember: The giant waterbug can kill a frog or fish twice its size--and there is a photo proving it. The African scorpion can grow up to eight inches. Take a ruler and show eight inches. Wow, they say. Children learn so much from this combination of simple, "juicy" facts and close-up photography.

The only thing missing is a geographical map showing bug location. The rest of the book will "bug" out little ones.