Insect World

Time-Life's "A Child's First Library of Learning" provides young readers with a solid resource for learning about the world around them. This volume focuses on insects. The normal format is followed here, a series of questions are posed regarding insects and then answers are provided. There are some activities for kids at the back and a series of inserts throughout providing additional information. The first question, to open the book, is (Page 4) "Where can we see insects?" Personally, I think it should have been "What are insects?" In small letters, there is one definition, "All adult insects have six legs." But that's pretty much it at the outset. One nice feature of this series is "To the parent," a brief insert that gives information to parents that they can speak about with their children. The second question, to illustrate," is "Why do butterflies like flowers?" The answer focuses on the nectar that butterflies use as nutrition. Other questions scattered throughout the book: "Why do scarab beetles have horns?" "Why do fireflies glow?" "What is an ant nest like?" "Did you know that honeybees talk to one another?" "Did you know that crickets have ears?" "Why do only female mosquitoes bite?" The book concludes with a standard feature in this series--some activities for kids. The exercises ask for such things as completing a check list of insects and other animals that children have seen. All in all, a solid entry in the series. . . .

What makes a firefly glow? How do ants find sugar? . . . and so on. A wonderfully informative and entertaining book on the realm of insects. Great illustrations that children can understand (such as showing a subterranean environment). Beautiful, stimulating, sharp photographs. Adult-level "to the parent" side notes. A "growing-up album" section in the rear for parents to keep a log of their child's experiences (pets, questions, adventures). If you had just one resource book on insects for your kids . . . this should be it. Children can probably start appreciating this one as they approach age 3, and will carry up into their grade school years easily.

What are these strange things? That is one of the 39 questions that comprise the contents of INSECT WORLD. This little science book is perfect for young children. With a mix of drawings and photography, the text of this book answers the questions that children are curious about. Do Insects visit flowers only to get nectar? No, bees collect nectar and pollen, some beetles eat flower pollen, mantises catch insects that come to the flowers.Why do bees sting? Adults usually know this answer, but a child may not. Even so, children have a developmental need to see the answers over and over. This book is perfect for revisitation into wonder and knowledge!