Amazon.com Review
Packed with hair-raising information about the bizarre comings and goings of creepy-crawlies,
Insects and Spiders will either drive arachnophobes over the edge or cure them forever. A mere sampling of the utterly fascinating facts found within: A female spider eats her mate only if he's clumsy or if she gets distracted (an exception is the six-humped dome spider--you don't even want to know what
she does to her partner). Some insects pretend to be other kinds of insects for self-preservation or to trap prey. There's even a beetle that communicates with wood ants to trick them into feeding it. Love the feel of silk? Consider this: it's made from caterpillar spit! Enjoy butterflies? Not all of them are the delicate flower-sipping lovelies we imagine. In this book, learn about the South American heliconiid butterfly, which sips urine. Or the vampire moth, which sucks the blood of its victims, including humans! There's still plenty of information on the more standard, garden-variety spiders and insects and their impact on the planet. But with features such as Inside Story, Hands On, Word Builders, That's Amazing, and Pathfinder, readers of all ages will satisfy their thirst for knowledge of the insect world, from the mundane to the remarkable.
Rather than being a comprehensive encyclopedia of insects and spiders, this book focuses on more generic features of these critters, while providing loads of specific examples. Sections on flying, defensive action, body language, and spiders versus insects give a terrific overview of the world at our feet (and in the air and underwater!). With its friendly text, up close and personal photos and illustrations, and glossary, Insects and Spiders makes a wonderful addition to the Reader's Digest Pathfinders series. (Ages 9 and older) --Emilie Coulter
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From School Library Journal
Gr 5-8-Dozens of insect and spider species are profiled in this profusely illustrated overview. Two-page chapters include information on basic anatomy, general physical and behavioral characteristics common to all species, and special characteristics of particular orders. Each spread includes an introductory paragraph, a dozen or so illustrations of representative species, and additional bits of information in extended captions scattered over the remaining space. The art is an eclectic mix of good-quality, different-sized, full-color photographs and drawings. Two features alternate between sections: "Hands On" gives brief directions for collecting specimens or conducting simple experiments, but the directions are often too cursory for the types of activities described. "Inside Story" discusses significant findings by scientists or other experts. Large anatomical diagrams appear in several sections. This book's greatest strength is its colorful, cleverly designed format. The text itself, while clearly written, is diffusely organized, and the index is incomplete. Jinny Johnson's Simon & Schuster Children's Guide to Insects and Spiders (S & S, 1997) is a better bet for reports as it gives more in-depth information on many of the same creatures and is more tightly organized. With its strong browsing appeal, however, this newer book will be a useful addition to natural-history sections.-Karey Wehner, San Francisco Public Library
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