The Bug Book and Bug Bottle [Paperback]

Hugh Danks (Author)

Book Description

Kids are crazy about bugs! And kids and parents are crazy about the Bug Book & Bug Bottle. Packed with activities and packaged in its own collecting bottle, the original Bug Book is now revised, updated, and expanded: Announcing the almost-all-new, more-bugs-than-ever edition.

The ingeniously designed, safe plastic bottle is perfect for catching and viewing creepy crawlies, then letting them go unharmed. (This is a bug kit with a conscience!) The full-color book provides field notes to 46 bugs (up from the original 24) arranged by habitat, including pond, forest, ground, leaves, field, flower. Written by entomologist Hugh Danks, the Bug Book gives comprehensive information about these fascinating creatures—how they live, what they eat, unusual characteristics, and more. It offers simple, clear guidelines on how to collect and care for bugs, and equally helpful hints on which bugs not to catch. New to the kit are a fold-out bug chart for quick identification, a magnifier to see the critters up close, and a bug explorer's journal to record discoveries.

Discover how the whirligig beetle got its name, why fireflies light up, and how water striders walk on water. And then impress parents and friends—here are all the tools kids need to become bona fide bug experts.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Hugh Danks, Ph.D., is an award-winning entomologist who served as the head of the Biological Survey of Canada for insects for nearly 30 years. Dr. Danks wrote the first edition of The Bug Book and has given many workshops at the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa, Canada, where he lives.

Product Details

• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Workman Publishing Company (May 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761148892
• ISBN-13: 978-0761148890
• Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 4.7 x 2.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #422,907 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun project for young entymologists, April 23, 2009

By 

DJ Joe Sixpack (...in Middle America) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Bug Book and Bug Bottle (Paperback)

"The Bug Book"
by Hugh Danks
(Workman Publishing, 2009)
---------------------------------------
Originally published in 1987, this is a great, simple gift for any young person interested in bugs and entymology. The small booklet (about 5"x 5") comes inside a slender container made of clear, hard plastic that is perfect for holding captured bugs. It even comes with airholes to encourage humane treatment of any captives. The book itself is very well-written and concise. It includes simple classification standards, profiles of a few dozen common bugs, suggestions for projects for specific species (using the plastic case to hatch a butterfly in, etc.) and a number of strategies for effectively gathering research subjects, such as baiting traps with food, digging small pits, sifting fallen leaves, building "night sheets," etc. There is also a small "bug journal" for children to log the insects they capture, describe their appearance and even to sketch their pictures. (The notebook is the only real shortfall of this science toy, since it only has room for a dozen entries -- perhaps a couple of extra copies would be nice, although I suppose once you get the hang of it, anyone who is into this kind of documenting activity could easily replicate the format in a blank notebook...)

As an educational tool, this is certainly a superior product. It is small and simple to use. The written text is quite informative, but easy to understand, and not overly technical; just the right balance to encourage and inform, but not overwhelm or bore young minds. This is probably best for children between 8 and 12, but is easy enough for smaller children to use as well. Recommended and fun (even though I always feel sorry for the poor bugs... remember to be nice to them!) (Joe Sixpack, ReadThatAgain children's book reviews)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars pure entertainment, August 20, 2011

By 

math dunce "johnwouters" (NJ United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Bug Book and Bug Bottle (Paperback)

4 and 6 year olds went bug crazy with this book and bottle... got hours of entertainment not to mention a ton of learning about bugs and what they eat. great product.

5.0 out of 5 stars BUG BOOK GREAT FOR TODDLERS, January 7, 2012

By 

sher - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Bug Book and Bug Bottle (Paperback)

This was one of many 'bug themed' items for our only grandson's second birthday. He simply loved it. He had become very interested in bugs during the summer so by October (his bd) he was really ready for this ... with his mother's assistance he was able to use the bottle to help a ladybug hibernate and is now awaiting her/his return in the spring.