CURIOUS ABOUT INSECTS

Intrigue young naturalists with basic facts about 18 insects distilled from the Sills’ About Insects (2000), for a somewhat older audience.

Each insect, pictured in its natural habitat, is described by a single line of text printed within a contrasting color band across the bottom of the page. The common name of the depicted insect is in a tiny italicized font below its picture. Simple declarative sentences describe attributes all insects share: six legs, three body parts, hatched from eggs, antennae. Twelve sentences start with “Some insects…” and describe characteristics that not all insects have. Often, contrasting attributes are juxtaposed on facing pages. For example, “Some insects are pests. / Some insects are helpful” below pictures of cockroaches and honeybees, respectively. In most cases, the single line of text and scientifically accurate watercolor illustrations with flora and fauna drawn to insect scale provide just enough information for young children. A couple of statements will prompt questions; adults may find themselves searching the internet for accurate answers to curious children’s questions. For example, “Insects live almost everywhere” is paired with a painting of silverfish on a stack of old books. Similarly, “Some insects get food from animals” below a picture of a horse fly near a horse’s eye begs for clarification. Still, facts and detailed pictures make the final sentence spread across two pages almost irrefutable: “It is important to protect insects…and the places where they live.”

A good beginning for nature appreciation.