Tag Archives: Insects

Apr5

The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Bug Hunt: a lift-and-learn book

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Penguin Australia

  • April 2022
  • ISBN: 9780241553503
  • Imprint: Puffin
  • Format: Board Book
  • RRP: $14.99
You know when you put together the art and charm of Eric Carle and lift-the-flap fun, you have a winning combination. When that fun becomes learning as well, it’s a beautiful bonus.

Your littlest readers are going to love this. Every page is pure classic Carle and the fact that there are several flaps on each spread will just send them into paroxysms of squealing joy. Aside from finding the mini-critters, you can focus on some prepositions and rhyme – what more could you want? Well of course, just delight in reading :-).

I anticipate this will be a read-aloud on high rotation in many homes and libraries too. Whether you have a little one to buy for, or a creche, playgroup or kinder – or your Preppies – this will make a super addition and a terrific springboard to some nature observations.

Feb28

Float or Sink? – Kylie Covark. Illustrated by Andrew Plant

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Ford St Publishing

February 2021

ISBN: 9781925804621 [paperback]

RRP: $16.95

This rhyming story is as cute as the bugs who star in it! When a stick falls into the creek the reader is invited to guess whether it will float or sink and when first a ladybird lands on it, followed by an assortment of other tiny critters (all of them with very grand titles), the guessing game continues.

As we have come to expect from Andrew Plant, the illustrations are bold and beautiful and Covark’s simple but rhythmic text begs for chorus reading as each bug lands precariously on the stick as it bobs along the water. But what will happen when a greedy duck sees the curious company? Children will love the predictions and their enthusiasm will easily lead into some science around floating and sinking – time for some fun experiments! It could also segue into an exciting game of Pooh Sticks – if you happen to have a handy creek and bridge!

I love this for its simple but catchy text and the overall design which is so much fun but also for the fact that it has such real application into some valuable learning experiences.

Highly recommended for little readers from Prep upwards.

Feb16

Bugs in Danger – Mark Kurlansky

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9781547603404

Bloomsbury Australia

Published:

07-01-2020

ISBN:

9781547600854

Imprint:

Bloomsbury Children’s Books

RRP: $20.00

I think there are many of us who are looking out for books that will both engage our students as well as inform them with the intention of developing their environmental conscience. I think there would be many who are already hanging bee motels and hopefully more who will be growing flowering plants and other garden activities to encourage the continued survival of our minibeast wildlife.

We all know the plight of the bees but it’s not just those vital insects disappearing. Numbers of ladybirds, dragonflies and butterflies have also been declining and it’s imperative that we all play our part in not only protecting them but encouraging their numbers to re  -build.

This book with its black-and-white line illustrations and fun chapter heading like: Honey I’m Home, Why Bees Boogie, The Vanishing Act and Meet the Beetles outlines a history and the importance of insects in our world. It concludes with What Can I Do? so that readers can enact their own action plan for a backyard blitz on bringing back the bugs.

Young readers and adults alike will enjoy this and find it interesting, informative and inspiring.

Recommended for readers from around 10 years up to any age!

Jan13

Tulip and Brutus – Liz Ledden/Andrew Plant

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Tulip-and-Brutus-Cov-LR

Ford St Publishing

October 2019

9781925804348

$14.99

This is such a perfect book for going back to school time as small children find themselves in a classroom full of disparate personalities and temperaments – many of them for the first time.

Tulip and her ladybird friends live in the flowers and play in the sunshine sipping honeydew while Brutus and the stinkbug gang hang out in the undergrowth and muddy patches.  There is never any combined play with these two bug groups.

But when a storm hits and completely disrupts their patch of garden it’s a case for all mini-beasts on deck when a danger flies overhead. Suddenly it seems that teamwork and cooperation are a much better option for all concerned.

So it is with those little ones who are just navigating new situations and relationships and what better way to demonstrate the value of working together and building friendships than with the power of a delightful picture book?

Ledden has created a simple but effective text and as usual Andrew Plant’s illustrations are stunning and joyous.

Highly recommended for little ones from around 3 year upwards.

Sep25

Bonkers About Beetles – Owen Davey

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beetles

Walker Books

ISBN: 9781911171485
Imprint: NB – Flying Eye
Release Date: August 1, 2018
Australian RRP: $27.99
New Zealand RRP: $29.99

  • I love Flying Eye books (I may have mentioned that once or twice)
  • I love Owen Davey’s wonderful non-fiction series which brings a world of nature, science and history to kids in a remarkably attractive way.

My own girl, no-longer-Small, just loves bugs of all kinds and has kept them as pets at various times and she’s certainly not the only one who has a fascination for these marvellous creatures (though some think they have way too many legs for comfort).

With chapters such as ‘Dressed for Success’, ‘Beetle Mythology’ and ‘Conservation’ this book covers the immense scope of beetles with admirable and judicious selection of facts bound to intrigue young readers.  I particularly love the double spread on ‘By Design’ with its hugely informative labelling.

As well as writing the body of the text in an easily accessible manner suited to young readers, Davey also ensures that scientific terminology and nomenclature is included, thus providing extension for the more able reader.

 

The illustrations in their uniquely stylised manner are, as always, simply gorgeous. This is the sort of book (as are others in the series) that children will return to over and over again.

I highly recommend this for your budding entomologists from around eight years upwards.

Bonkers-about-Beetles_3

Bonkers-about-Beetles_4

Jul11

Animal Activity: Cut , fold and make your own wild things – Isabel Thomas

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Bloo9781408870068msbury

May 2017

ISBN: 9781408870068
Imprint: Bloomsbury Activity Books

RRP $14.99

Bloomsbury just has the BEST activity books for all ages! This is a super treat for lovers of science and nature. It’s described as a ‘self-destructing, action-packed activity book’ and it certainly is.

So much to cut, fold, create, share, display and think about it that kids will be itching to get their hands and scissors onto it.

As well as the interactive activities there is loads of information about critters and such. With 63 pages of fun to be had – this will make a great gift for that busy child who needs a bit of quiet time (well, it might be the family that needs the quiet time). With The Divine Miss M’s birthday approaching in just a few weeks this will be a perfect addition to her gift bag – and keep her out of her mother’s hair for a bit!

Highly recommended for kids who love to ‘make’ from around 7 years upwards.