Synopsis
Young readers will definitely catch the bug when they see this enticing, fact-filled invitation to explore the world of insects.
A Junior Library Guild Selection
Right now, all around us, thousands of insects are doing strange and wonderful things: wasps are building nests, ants are collecting food, and dragonflies are readying for the hunt. But it’s not always easy to catch sight of these six-legged creatures: you have to know where to look. Guided by this book, readers will happily become insect detectives and find out just what those bugs are up to.
Children's Literature
"...all around you, thousands of insects are doing strange and wonderful things." To see them, you must become an insect detective. Voake first encourages readers to examine wasps at work making a nest. Then they should follow an ant home to its nest. The habits of solitary bees are noted. We are shown the ways insects use camouflage to hide from predators. Other creatures of interest are also found under stones. The dragonfly is perhaps "the greatest insect hunter." To see all these wonders, readers are encouraged to "just open the door and step outside." The lively text in large type is balanced by further information in small type asides. Sketchy pen-and-ink drawings with lightly applied touches of transparent watercolors create the delicate emotional atmosphere of the insect world. Voake carefully represents the creatures and their plant environment with an accuracy that does not dull the esthetic character of the double-page scenes. On the end pages the dragonflies carry on in the grassy venue of the jacket. Along with an "Index," information is provided about how to be an insect detective. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz