Bugs Before Time: Prehistoric Insects and Their Relatives

Did you know that for every pound of people on earth, there are 300 pounds of insects? Or that millions of years ago some of these bugs actually weighed that much? Well, during prehistoric times, before dinosaurs ruled the earth, bugs did; and just like today the seas, skies, and lands were covered by these creepy-crawlers. There were dragonflies with wings that reached a yard across in length, and millipedes that grew to over six feet long! But what is even more fascinating is the fact that all of these creatures in some form or another learned to adapt and survive to become the insects and sea beasts of today.

In this fully illustrated picture book, readers will be captivated by the detailed information of prehistoric insects, arachnids, and their relatives. Chock-full of facts about fossil formation, insect evolution, flight theories, and geologic time, Bugs Before Time will mesmerize entomologists of all ages. Author Cathy Camper's absorbing text, and artist Steve Kirk's extraordinary paintings combine to re-create a world where giants reigned.

Describes the physical characteristics, habits, and natural environment of various prehistoric insects some of which, including cockroaches, centipedes, and dragonflies, have survived into the present day.

Did you know that for every pound of people on earth, there are 300 pounds of insects? Or that millions of years ago some of these bugs actually weighed that much? Well, during prehistoric times, before dinosaurs ruled the earth, bugs did; and just like today the seas, skies, and lands were covered by these creepy-crawlers. There were dragonflies with wings that reached a yard across in length, and millipedes that grew to over six feet long! But what is even more fascinating is the fact that all of these creatures in some form or another learned to adapt and survive to become the insects and sea beasts of today.

In this fully illustrated picture book, readers will be captivated by the detailed information of prehistoric insects, arachnids, and their relatives. Chock-full of facts about fossil formation, insect evolution, flight theories, and geologic time, Bugs Before Time will mesmerize entomologists of all ages. Author Cathy Camper's absorbing text, and artist Steve Kirk's extraordinary paintings combine to re-create a world where giants reigned.

Susan Hepler - Children's Literature

Multiple perspectives on what we know about prehistoric insects are presented in lively page designs and vigorous language. An upper left hand box of text anchors each page while sidebars, boxed text, labels, charts, and lists explain how early insects were often giants and why, how a fossil is made and what it indicates, early insect ancestors and evolution, a great page on trilobites (though one wishes for a picture of a trilobite shedding its armor), and separate sections on winged insects, dragonflies, centipedes, ants, spiders, and all the rest (butterflies, beetles, etc...). The breathless presentation wears at times with unnecessary emphasis (GOBBLED UP, LURKED, DANGER, and PROBABLY BIGGER THAN YOUR MOM!) But at the same time, the text uses wonderfully apt comparisons for sizes, shapes or movement, and it reads aloud well. Who could resist all of those expressive exclamation points, questions and answers, and fascinating believe-it-or-not biggest, fastest, "mostest": facts? Kirk's realistic paintings are detailed recreations of what might have been and provide punchy complement to the text. End matter includes a wealth of facts about Pangaea the supercontinent, geologic time, a marvelous and close-packed four-part set of references (almost too small to read), and a pronouncing and definition glossary. Quite a package and crammed full of excitement and wonder, as well. 2002, Simon & Schuster,

Cathy Camper has published articles and stories for children and adults in Cricket, Wired, and Giant Robot magazines. She coedits a tiny magazine about candy called Sugar Needle, and likes to make art out of seeds, and toy robots out of junk. Although she loves fossilized insects and getting surprises in the mail, please don¹t send her any gigantic bugs, especially if they have more than eight legs. This is her first book for children.