THE BIG BUG BOOK

Thirteen giant insects are briefly described and dramatically portrayed in meticulous color illustrations by the author's son. Facklam (And Then There Was One, 1990, etc.) is a master of presenting scientific information clearly and succinctly while focusing on the kind of facts that stimulate appreciation of the natural world. Beginning with a discussion of how big insects can actually be and an overview of their anatomy, she devotes spreads to such unusual creatures as the giant wetapunga, the Atlas moth, and the Madagascar hissing cockroach. In the illustrations, the enormous wild insects are amusingly juxtaposed with settings that reinforce the lifesize scale: A six-inch Goliath beetle crawls on a plate of cookies, three-inch cockroaches climb alphabet blocks, and the six-inch walking stick balances on tinker toys. Unusually appealing and intriguing. Brief glossary, but scientific names aren't given. (Nonfiction. 5-12)