More Bugs? Less Bugs?

Children's Literature

This is a simple addition and subtraction that focuses on insects. Bees add up to five, starting with one plus one. Ladybugs are counted by twos, stopping at ten. Then there is a problem¾the author states that he is about to count damselflies, but a dragonfly is in most of the photographs. He starts with five insects and subtracts one in each picture until he is left with one. (Why not zero?) Then twelve butterflies fly away in pairs until there are none left. Finally, summary sheets starting with zero add one more treehopper to reach five, or two more beetles to reach ten, or subtract from five planthoppers one at a time, or from ten, pairs of wasps, reaching zero in both cases. A concluding note to parents and teachers includes two hands-on projects. Internet sites, "books about bugs," a glossary full of information about the insects and an index follow. Shouldn't the title be "More Bugs? Fewer Bugs?" This is an entry in the "A+ Books" series. 1999, Capstone Curriculum, $21.00. Ages 4 to 7. Reviewer: Candace Deisley