Not quite as charming as Heos's crocodilian book in this series, but still, so much fun. Clever, gross, and wildly informative.

The author of this informational text has cleverly fashioned her book into an information guide for new insect parents. The writing is child-friendly, focusing on facts that every young person will enjoy learning, and written in a casual way that invites understanding.

My book displays a science call number but somehow this book was reclassified into fiction picture books.

“Q. What will my babies look like? Will they resemble their mother or father?
A. Surprise! Neither! They will look like worms. Whether your babies are wriggly maggots, fat grubs, or fuzzy caterpillars, your larvae will look different from you.” ( )

very clever nonfiction book about insect life cycle. ( )

I've seen quite a bit of buzz (heh heh heh) for this insect book and decided to take a look at it. So much fun! In question and answer format, Heos, presents facts about larvae and metamorphosis and the laying, hatching, and growth of insects.

She covers topics like what larvae eat - and who eats them, peoples' reactions to bugs, and a fun section on the demise of books and libraries as a haven for bookworms and other bugs. The text is in short, snappy sections, easily read aloud to a large group of preschool and up. I am always looking for more nonfiction read alouds and this one should be a hit!

The book includes a glossary, bibliography, and further reading and websites to check out for more information. I was pleased to see Nic Bishop's Butterflies and Moths listed as further reading. These lists often seem to consist of random mass-produced nonfiction but this one has some very nice titles on it.

Jorisch's illustrations are colorful and hilarious without being too cartoony. Worried mama butterflies, smug ladybug mothers, terrified aphids, and the most hilarious illustration of the food chain I've ever seen will make this book an instant hit!

Verdict: There are plenty of titles about insects, but this is the first I've seen that specifically covers larvae and the early cycle of insect life. It's informative, funny, and will appeal to kids from preschool up through third grade. Recommended!

ISBN: 9780761358589; Published April 1, 2011 by Lerner Publishing Group; Review copy provided by Lerner through NetGalley; Added to order list for my library.

This series is a tongue-in-cheek play on the human "What to Expect When You're Expecting" series. A humorous approach to the classic animals-and-their-babies series. Recommended. (158) ( )