A KID’S GUIDE TO BACKYARD BUGS

An introduction to common creepy-crawlies of diverse types that’s not for the nervous.

Berkowitz may start off by urging fans of all things small and wriggly to make an (outdoor) bug “hotel” from natural materials to facilitate observation—but as she kicks off her tally with scorpions and goes on to include centipedes, eastern yellow jackets, hornets, bumblebees, blue-winged wasps, and wheelbugs (also known as assassin bugs) among her 40 entries, not to mention ticks, stink bugs, wolf spiders, and the hickory horned devil, a caterpillar described as “the size of a large hot dog,” even intrepid younger naturalists may think twice about venturing into their backyards. Though the author covers species that are widespread in the United States, she offers “Fun Facts” involving other regions, such as that the rock scorpion of South Africa can grow to 8 1/2 inches long or that the African giant earthworm can reach 6 feet in length…and notes that in parts of the world, people eat crickets, stink bugs, and grasshoppers. In close-up illustrations that resemble cut-paper collage, LaRue emphasizes distinctive coloring and physical features to make identifying the creatures easy even from a distance. Thank goodness.

Appealing to readers who prefer to view nature’s wonders vicariously.