Beetles

November 1, 2013

K-Gr 2-Simple sentences set in appealing layouts and matched with useful photographs make this series a strong choice for beginning readers. Rather than trying to cover a broad spectrum of information, individual books highlight one area of particular interest, such as food gathering in Honeybees and birth and mating in Crickets. The language is spare but effective, with short informational sentences and occasional question/answer sequences: "How does [a cricket] make sound? He rubs his wings." The photographs are uncluttered and helpful, often depicting the specific body part or behavior mentioned in the text. For example, though the words can be as simple as "Bees sip nectar," the close-up view of the insect in action, with one judiciously placed label, expands the impact. A brief picture glossary and a captioned photo with labeled parts neatly conclude each title. The series compares favorably to other bug sets aimed at first readers.

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 15, 2013
Preschool-G It's an insect-eat-insect world out there, as proven by the Insect World series. While each title covers similar information, they are not simply a repetition of interchangeable facts. Instead, each book's short, clear, yet engaging text takes an approach individual to its titular bug. After noting typical physical characteristics, Beetles looks at several distinct kinds of beetles and their special qualities, from the stag beetle with large jaws to the dung beetle ( I eat poop! ). The series' greatest strength rests in the high-quality color photos that invite follow-up questions: Are some ladybugs black? How can that ant carry something so big? Each book concludes with the insect's parts labeled and a picture glossary.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)