Customer Reviews

Bugs Are Insects (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 1)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

My 3-year-old daughter is crazy about all the creepy crawly critters of the world, so I knew she would love this book, and her father and I think it's pretty cool as well. The cut paper illustrations are wonderful to look at, and the text is quite informative for readers of any age, yet it's accessible to even young preschoolers like mine.

However, I do have one criticism of the book, which is that it depicts crabs, lobsters, shrimps, and centipedes without offering any explanation of what kind of animals they are. The book also mentions spiders, scorpions, and daddy longlegs, and for these we are told that they are arachnids rather than insects, so why the lack of clarification for the other non-insect arthropods? It would have been very simple and logical for the text to include the information that crabs, lobsters, and shrimps belong to a group of animals called crustaceans, which is related to insects and arachnids, and that centipedes are members of another related group called myriapods. That's it, nothing more complicated would have been necessary... Or else don't introduce those animals at all. But don't make a point of putting them in the book only to say, "These are not insects," and then not bother to properly identify them for the reader; that's pointless and likely to leave many kids (and probably most parents) confused.

Still, the book is otherwise so nice, I wish it was possible to deduct only half a star from its rating for that one flaw.

This book is a very good resource for study/teaching at the primary grade levels. The cut paper illustrations are beautiful and engaging. The text more than holds its own by giving young readers a chance to observe and compare many different kinds of insects and even an arachnid or two. Readers learn for themselves precisely 'what makes an insect an insect', while at the same time picking up a few good science vocabulary words and catching a glimpse of several dozens of different insects, (all of which are identified at the back of the book). Also included is a page with several suggestions for follow up activities.

I am a preschool science teacher and I have found this book to be incredibly helpful when we were learning about how living things are classified. When learning about invertebrates, this is the book to have! The language is age appropriate and the illustrations are excellent. My preschoolers love this book! They walk away with a lot of information that is easy to remember.

After seeing this book for the first time at a museum I decided to buy it. My son also remembered it after a short viewing at the museum, so it apparently had a good impact on him too.

I love the simple yet detailed illustrations - colorful & textured cutouts of each insect with no background noise. And the text has lots of info.

Not five stars because reading it feels kind of cumbersome. With the type of info presented, it would've been more effective in a more freestyle format w/ bullet-type text instead of trying to mimic a storybook. Simple text to match the simple pictures would've been nice.

There's also an odd statement in the book that made me wonder if the editing was done overseas or something... It states- "Crickets have long back legs for jumping" and "Grasshoppers have long legs for making music". uhh...isn't this switched around? I suppose it could work either way (but has anyone actually heard it that way?)

Anyway, this book is still a pleasure to look at and well worth the purchase. It's still much better & more comprehensive then the several other bug books we saw at the museum. And very preschooler-friendly.

This is a science picture book about different kinds of insects and their characteristics. Targeted for the preschool-kindergarten age, it introduces basic concepts to differentiate insects, bugs, arachnids, and other kinds of creatures. The artwork is unusual for a science book in that it is collage art rather than drawings or photographs; but it is colorful and interesting, a nice addition to any bug-loving child's library.

This book is great because it is easy to read, clear in terminology and fun to read at the same time. My students are middle school students learning English, this book can be very informative and clear up any misconceptions of English words and definitions regarding bugs and insects. That can be enormously important in learning science in a language a student is not fluent in.

I got this book out of the library for my 3 yr old grandson. Bugs were very important objects this summer. He had me renew the book so many times I finally bought it. He loves to hear about the different bugs, count their legs and body parts and identify the pictures. He's learning about science and having a ball. It's one of his favorite bedtime books.

Stated appropriately as a Stage 1 book (for ages 3-6 or Pre-school -K). Simple language which would explain basic concepts to a younger child. Very little vocabulary; parts of the insects are not labeled, though head, thorax and abdomen are named. Has a good variety of insects for beginners, and I like that the text asks questions that are directed toward the reader applying what they've read and thinking for themselves. I like this book for a first book on insects at a pre-school level. My daughter has just turned six, and the book is a little too basic for her, but it was just about right for my 3 year old.

I love this let's read and find out science series. I purchased this book for use with a science unit on living things for level 1 students (Ages 3-6). The book exceeded my expectations. The illustrations are fantastic. I am now looking for more books illustrated by Steve Jenkins--very impressive. Not only is the book great for science, I also use it for math, reading, and language arts. The author also lists several learning activities at the end of the book and she provides curriculum support websites for extention activities.

This book and a bug box and you're set for the summer. My son often asks for this book.