Bug Safari [Library Binding]

Bob Barner (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

A young explorer finds dragonflies, bees, beetles, and an army of black ants on the move in this introduction to insects and other creepy crawlies. A four-page glossary provides information on the sixteen kinds of bugs seen in this story.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2--In this suburban adventure, a young explorer describes his experiences as he tracks an army of ants through "a bug-infested jungle," observing their progress through a magnifying glass. The insects run into some dreadful hazards on their trek--a squadron of fierce red ants, a spider, a toad, and other predators. The safari ends in the child's own backyard, where his mother is waiting with a picnic lunch for the hungry boy and the ants. Barner used cut-and-torn paper and homemade paste paper to create dense, vibrantly colored collages that cover every inch of the spreads. Proportions are maintained by including size clues--a magnifying glass, a ruler, a sneaker, and a pencil. The ants somehow manage to have expression without being anthropomorphized, and the text entertains while it informs. An appendix provides brief information about ants and the creatures they encountered during their journey. This book offers budding entomologists a grand tour of insect life in the backyard, while those who are less bug inclined will enjoy the gorgeous illustrations.--Jane Barrer, Washington Square Village Creative Steps, New York City
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 1-3. Color-drenched, multitextured, cut-and-torn paper collages distinguish Barner's celebration of insects, as seen through the eyes of a boy who strays from "base camp" and stumbles upon a trail of ants. In a distinctly tongue-in-cheek first-person narrative, the boy exaggerates the perils of his stroll: "I was lost in a bug-infested jungle one hot summer day." He follows the ants over rocks, past a fierce ant battle, and into the clutches of an ant-zapping toad: "We were moving quickly--but to where and what?" As the boy bravely presses onward, he discovers exactly where the ants are headed so determinedly--a picnic lunch at his very own base camp. Barner's cheerful illustrations offer a dizzying array of perspectives, from that of an ant eyeing the boy's looming ruler to an aerial view of a robin eating a spider. A five-page glossary provides captions about the various leggy creatures we encounter. The bright, cut-paper collages will appeal to the youngest bug lovers, but the funny, dramatically told story is tailored to a more sophisticated young entomologist. Karin Snelson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Library Binding: 32 pages
• Publisher: Holiday House; 1 edition (March 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823417077
• ISBN-13: 978-0823417070
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 11.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,614,617 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely Book, May 30, 2008

By 

S. Cole (Colorado Springs, CO United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bug Safari (Library Binding)

My son has loved this book since he was about 2 1/2. It's the perfect book to introduce young children to the wonderful world of their backyard. We took our own "bug hunt" after reading this story.

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful, but not for 3 and 4 year olds, May 20, 2008

By 

crwMSU "crw" (TX) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bug Safari (Paperback)

Although I loved this book, it was a difficult Read Aloud for three and four year olds due to the quantity of words. I'm sure it would be perfect for the Kindergarten age range.