Insects, Bugs, and Spiders

Summary: Amazing photos, large headers and clear labels make this appealing to younger readers.  Plenty of facts sprinkled across large bold photos highlight everyday backyard (or playground) bugs. Photo charts compare similar insects and illustrate identification guides making this easy to browse without needing to read text. Clear concise glossary and index.

Curricular use: This is a great science tie-in for early elementary or special education instruction or casual browsing.  

Audience: Grades PK-2 and low literacy students. 

Summary: Dynamically illustrated narrative nonfiction, this follows Jumper, a jumping spider through her day hunting in a backyard garden.  Seamlessly woven into the story are facts about spiders and the illustrations demonstrate comparisons to human (a young girl’s) life.  Detailed illustrated diagrams in the back of the book further explain spider facts from the story.    

Curricular use: A great example of narrative nonfiction and a beautiful addition to first grade fiction vs. nonfiction lessons.   

Audience: Grades PK-2. 

Summary: A multilayered book focused on common US backyard bugs, Hustle Bustle Bugs has simple text but additional facts in sidebars add depth. Great appendix of more fun facts adds another layer.  Illustrations are multimedia with a fascinating artist note about how the images were sculpted. 

Curricular use: This book is targeted for young readers and backyard explorers.  It could be a fun addition to some outdoor backyard or playground science exploration.  

Audience: Grades K-3, text is best as a K-1 read-aloud but sidebars and additional facts stretch this to K-3. 

Summary: Hilariously dispelling the idea that butterflies are gentle, lovely creatures, this book aims to dish the true (and disgusting) facts of what butterflies are really up to when nobody is looking.  Funny and informative with little known butterfly facts.

Curricular use: This book would be a great pairing with The Very Impatient Caterpillar or an addition to the science unit that raises butterflies.  

Audience: Grades 1-3 and other butterfly aficionados. 

Summary:  A brightly illustrated story of cicadas, starting with them as nymphs underground and then emerging, then following their life, then returning to the next generation’s emergence for the final page.  Rhyming cadence in larger text is perfect for younger readers, while smaller text adds depth and interesting facts to a more mature reader.  Bold, stylized illustrations are captivating.  It includes a brief glossary and an appendix with a clearly labeled diagram of a cicada. 

Curricular use: This book is perfect for the emergence of the cicada broods this summer (2024) and makes a great addition to scientific inquiry units for younger students. 

Audience: Grades K-3 and other young scientists interested in the brood 13 and brood 17 cicada emergence.