Review: DK Readers BUGS AND US by Patricia J. Murphy

BUGS AND US is one of DK's (Dorling Kindersley) Beginning To Read books.

I like the approach that DK and Patricia Murphy takes with this material. The book begins by admitting that bugs do bug us.  It then goes on to show though that our lives are dependent upon bugs.  That they not only make honey and silk, but they pollinate our crops, and actually provide pest control by eating even peskier bugs.  Not to mention that they can be food for people.

CONTENTS
Buzz! Swat! Scratch!
Who needs insects?
Pollinators
Honeybees
Pest controllers
Ladybugs
Ants
Spiders
Watch and listen
Silkworm moths
Recyclers
Helping science
Tasty insects
Let bugs live
Glossary

The above two page spread identifies the basic parts of bugs; while the page below shows a typical photograph and sample text.

Here's one more sample paragraph of text from another page:

Dragonflies eat 300 to 400 mosquitoes a day.
Praying mantises and green lacewings feast
on insects, large and small.  But, soon, other
animals will eat them!

Pam~


BUGS AND US
(DK Readers)
by Patricia J. Murphy

Reading Information:
Word Count: 504
Page Count: 32
Accelerated Reader:  2.9 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 155683
--sample pages available
--note that one reviewer said it was not a good Kindle purchase because the photos don't display well

Show-Me Herps! by John Miller, (Photos) Steve Buchanan

While I am one of those individuals who over the past few years certainly have had issues with the Missouri Conservation Commission, I certainly cannot fault them for their publications. I have yet to run across one, and I have used most of them, that I did not find extremely useful; or at the very least, downright helpful. This little booklet is no exception and as a matter of fact is one of the most delightful of their publications in recent years.

For those of you familiar with the format and quality of Show-Me Bugs, you will be delighted that this book is of the same quality and is just as stunning visually.

Now I must confess to being a very enthusiastic fan of the illustrator of both of these books; Steven Buchanan. In my opinion he is one of the best, if not the best, illustrator of wildlife practicing his art today. More about that later.

This 152 page book includes pictures and addresses 18 of the 43 species of amphibians found in Missouri and 32 of the 69 species of reptiles. This is a pretty good representation of what we have to offer in this state, but do be aware that this is not a complete comprehensive field guide to all of the species which inhabit our area. It was not meant to be. There are many, many other publications which do quite a nice job of this.

No, this is a wonderful introduction to the amphibians and reptiles in Missouri. While it certainly falls into the category of "basic," it would be a mistake to think of it as only a book for children. This work is what I like to refer to as a "seed book." It is so well done, and gives so many little interesting facts, that it is bund to plant seeds of curiosity into anyone reading it and encourage them to expand their knowledge via observation (something this book stresses) and further reading. Like anything else, it is easier to learn; to develop a life long interest in anything, by first taking baby step and not allow yourself or your children to become overwhelmed.

Anyway, after a wonderful introduction to the world of Herps, each featured species is given two pages, facing each other. One page includes a picture, the other a short text which includes species name, habitat and interesting facts. The text is very well done, easy to read, accurate and informative.

Now more about the art work. Steve Buchanan's illustrations are of the types that appear, at first glance, to be actual photograph. I have never seen critters drawn, colored and presented in such a realistic fashion as offered here. Each animal simply jumps from the page. The printing and reproduction quality, on slick paper, is the best. You can spend literally hours just looking at the pictures in this book. They go beyond illustrations into the realm of fine art.

This is an ideal book go give to your child and grandchild and is ideal to use in nature study for both the young and the not so young. I grant you that I would be nice to have a book of this quality covering each and every species; indeed, even subspecies, but perhaps this will be coming down the line in the future.

This is certainly one you will want to add to your natural history library.

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks

Show-Me Herps!

• Accelerated Reading level : unknown
  
• Paperback: 152 pages
• Publisher: Missouri Department of Conservation (2010)
• ISBN-10: 188724770X

See Don's review here.

Show-Me Bugs! by Michael Reinke

As I write this there are approximately 900,000 species of insects/bugs/spiders/etc. that have been identified in our world. Many specialists and folks in the know estimate that this is only scratching the surface and that there quite well could be 10 million species when all is said and done.

I note these figures so that this little book can be placed in perspective. Here in a few pages, 50 different species of the above named critters are named and identified. Now if you live in Missouri, or have spent any times in any part of the state, you will no beyond a doubt that we have many more `bugs' in our state than that. I sometimes feel (literally) when I am working a river bottom on a hot summer evening that all 10 million species have decided to visit me all at once. Fifty is not many, but for the purposes of this book, is plenty.

Be that as it may, this is another wonderful work produced and published my Missouri Conservation Department. As I have said before, I certainly have had many issues with this department in the past, and indeed, more so at present than ever before, but I cannot fault their many fine publications. They do a class act in this area from start to finish.

This little book is an absolute gem. It is geared more for the younger set but I can assure you that any person, at any age who has the slightest interest in natural history will find this work to be an absolute delight.

Steve Buchanan, the illustrator of this and other works, is simply one of the best in the business. His paintings of these fifty animals are some of the most realistic I have ever seen and are a joy to the eyes. The drawings/paintings are of the type that are difficult to distinguish from actual photographs and in many ways, are superior to most photographs I have reviewed as to allowing the reader to identify a particular species.

This little book addresses insects, bugs, spiders and their like. Probably the only objection I have with the book is its titles which include the word "Bugs," which is technically quite misleading. That is a miner beef on my part and of little moment.

Each of the fifty insects or bugs included in this work are given two pages; one for the wonderful illustration, the other which includes the species (including scientific name), the habitat and food, and the life cycle. The book is filled with very interesting little facts.

As I said, this work is geared toward the younger crowd and should not be considered a comprehensive field guide by any means. It should though be considered a good starter kit to stimulate the interest of the child, and adult too, for that matter.

I not that this work is in several of the class rooms where I act as substitute teacher (third and fourth grades) and I note that during free time and reading time that this work, along with Show-Me Herps are in constant use and extremely popular.

This work belongs in your child's nature library, and unless I am completely wrong, I suspect that you, the parent or grandparent, will be fighting the little one over reading time with it.

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks


Show-Me Bugs!

• Accelerated Reading level : unknown
  
• Paperback: 132 pages
• Publisher: Missouri Department of Conservation
  
• ISBN-10: 1887247491

See Don's review here.

Patulous, The Different Caterpillar by A. Volta

SO MANY LESSONS IN SUCH A SMALL BOOK! AMAZING - KIDS WILL LOVE THIS ONE

Every so often I run across a children's book that has so much going for it that it is quite difficult to know where to start. This is one of them! I note that this work has been referred to as another take-off on the "ugly duckling" story, and while that may be so to a certain extent, I hesitate to do so myself. Although that theme does indeed shimmer in the back ground; I found this work to be so very much more. Now where to start...where to start?

I suppose we can first take a look at the text; I feel you will agree is an important element of any book. The author, A.Volta has used a straight forward syntax that is extremely easy to understand and, just as importantly, to read. There is no doubt as to the primary message the author is conveying, i.e. acceptance, rejection and the heartache that comes with being a bit different. As a substitute teacher I find this nasty little problem riffling through the younger set almost on a daily basis. (We can say the same of the adult world, but we will not go there at this time.) In precise wording, simple at first glance, but oh so complex, the author has addressed this problem in no uncertain terms. No beating around the bush here; I find this extremely refreshing! As has been pointed out by other reviewers here, there is also a strong touch of whimsy woven throughout the test. Again, I find this absolutely charming, being a big fan of whimsy of any sort. Bottom line is that this author can write and write well!

Now to the moral part of the story which is the heart of this work. Our little caterpillar, Patulous, is quite different than its mates. Our little caterpillar's color was different; all splotchy and not like the nice smooth green of the others, and Patulous' body shape! Oh my, not long, lean and smooth, but rather short and chunky. No, our little critter simply did not fit the norm. Patulous is scorned and rejected by the others simply because our little friend is "different." Wow, have I seen this little drama played out over and over again over the years!

Now the plot of this work is simple, as it should be, and I will be brief here as I do not want to add any spoilers to this review. Patulous leaves the other caterpillars feeling totally rejected, but finds the world is full of friends who are quite accepting. First there is the kindly and understanding snail, and then enter the picture, a sympathetic cricket and finally a rather delightful ladybug. These new friends accept Patulous as is, unconditionally. The day finally comes when the different little creature, Patulous must go away with the other caterpillars "to make my chrysalis - to become a butterfly!" Patulous' friends watch in anxious wonder. Enough of the plot now; I do not want to give the exciting part away. Sorry folks, you will have to read and find the ending for yourselves! I will say though that I love happy endings and I was not disappointed with this one.

There is more to this story though than just the obvious message. The author has dished out and made available to the adult a plethora of teaching aids in this work, all quite sneaky and hidden within the story so the kids will not be put off by just "another lesson." First the author has given us a wonderful and simply explanation of the life cycle of the butterfly. She has been kind enough to include a nicely written outline of this fascinating process in the back of the book. Secondly, the name of the caterpillar and the book, "Patulous" alone gives the parent and teacher a golden opportunity to explain the Latin language and how if affects our own and other languages. Thirdly, and I think just as important as anything else in this work, it exposes children to some very nice writing and like children everywhere, the will learn to distinguish good writing from bad writing through the simple process of osmosis. (A niece project would be for the older of the little ones to write their own simple version of this story and illustrate it themselves.)

And now we have the art work in this little book. Oh my goodness, I hate to age myself and use the term "knock your socks off," but that little saying from out of the past is perfect in describing the wonderful illustrations in this book. They are colorful, precise, powerful, entertaining and informative. Reader take note here....look closely at the shading the artist, Diane Lucas has used to highlight and frame her work. As an example, take a close peek at one single purple flower (amongst the many illustrated here) and note that you can identify at least six or seven shades of the simple color of purple. If you think this is easy, try it yourself sometime. This is the sort of work that a child will set and leaf through for hours in fascination of the colors and figures alone. The art work goes perfectly with the pictures. Text and art, and their perfect blending enhance both the art of the writer and the art of the artist in this work. This is one good writer and one good artist and we are lucky they came together in one single work.

Note: This is a crafty author. I was unable to ascertain after reading this work the gender of our different little caterpillar. This again is not easy and I thought it quite fitting and found it quite workable. I am not sure how she pulled it off...but she did.

This is a well built, bound and designed book that should hold up through countless readings and less than gentle care from the wee ones.

This would be a wonderful addition to any child's library (Pre School through 3rd grade), and any school or public library. It is an absolute treasure.

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks

• Accelerated Reading level : None Found
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Working Parents, LLC (November 5, 2008)
• ISBN-10: 0971104018

Ant, Ant, Ant! An Insect Chant by April Pulley Sayre with brilliant illustrations by Trip Park

In a previous review I suggested that perhaps my children and I didn't get into the swim of April Sayre's Trout, Trout, Trout: a fish chant because we weren't really fish people. We loved the artwork, which was fantastic and humorous, but the chant of Shad, Shad, Shad just didn't do much for us.

Well apparently that was true, for after two weeks with Ant, Ant, Ant: An Insect Chant we've fallen in love with the book. (Which I guess means we're buggy people.)

In fact, my two-- boy and girl; currently 7 and 9 -- have been pouring over Ant³ every chance they get, sometimes getting into a tussle over who is going to hold the book, or what page they should study. And despite the sometime raised voices, I couldn't be happier as the book is not only entertaining... it's EDUCATIONAL!

The lyrics in this book essentially serve to name the insects in a fashion that helps kids (and adults) to remember their names. (Here's an example.)

Cockroach,
Earwig.
Like them? Can't!

Firefly,
Flower Fly,
Ant,
Ant,
Ant!

I know they don't look like much printed out like this, but if you combine the chants with Trip Park's playful drawings they take on a life of their own. In fact, if you take a look at the picture below, you'll see what I mean. The artwork manages somehow to be both physically accurate and yet preposterous and funny.

And I know the book works as an educational tool because my daughter's already identified a Click Bug based on the picture and description. [This picture --graciously supplied to BFKr by the publisher and Mr. Park-- is one of my favorites. It's sans text if you're wondering.]



Wrap Up:::
An excellent book that can introduce young children to a broad range of insects. The chants name the critters, while the illustrations and the 4-page 'dictionary' make the book both fun and educational.

Both of my children are using the dictionary at the back to find out more about the insects. Here's what you'll find in the entry on Flower Flies: Flower flies, which are flies, are important pollinators. They feed on pollen and nectar. This is a great kid-friendly answer that's not overly detailed, but just right for youngsters.

Ms. Sayre also is wise enough to guess what questions are likely going to pop up in kids' heads. For example, about Earwigs: Earwigs don't hide in ears or wigs. These nocturnal plant-eaters hide in leaves, bark, and other crevices during the day. They pinch attackers with their two cerci or give off a stinky-smelling liquid.

Fear Factor: The insects aren't as sweetly goofy as some of the fish were. Some indeed seem a little menacing -- which my 7 year-old son thought was cool. That said, some toddlers and preschoolers might possibly be put off. You'll just have to test and see if the time is right.

The Accelerated Reading (wikipedia entry) designation for Ant, Ant, Ant: An Insect Chant is a generic "2" which means that the book is written on the 2nd Grade level, with no precise month assigned.