00015834

teaches children where to look for insects. ages 3-8

Written in a journal form, discusses information on different kinds of insects
6 books

Accessible and appealing. ( )

Ta-da! I'm always excited to find a good nonfiction read-aloud, and I'm pleased to announce that this is definitely a good one!

Steve Voake (author of the sweet Daisy Dawson beginning chapter book series, which we are quite fond of in my library) explores the world of insects, giving clues and hints about where you can find common insects, how to identify them, and a little bit about their habits and habitats. The book looks at wasps, ants, solitary bees, dragonflies, and much, much more.

The book isn't meant to be an in-depth guide, just a light introduction to the world of insects and some of the fascinating creatures you can find outside. There are more details about the various insects in smaller text, a section in the back on how to track down more insects, and a little index.

My only doubt on this book is that, while I'm personally fond of Charlotte Voake's illustrations, which have a lovely old-fashioned, summery feeling, they can be hard to use in story time since the colors are very faint and the illustrations are sketchy, if you know what I mean.

Verdict: A great book for insect story times, perfect for preschool through 1st or even 2nd grade. Probably work best with a small group that can sit close enough to see details in the illustrations.