Review by Booklist Review
Similar in approach to Arnosky's Slither and Crawl (2009) and Thunder Birds (2011), this large-format book features many colorful illustrations, six foldout pages, and a wealth of knowledge about insects and arachnids. Each section presents a topic such as Mayflies, Dragonflies, Stoneflies, and Caddisflies or Beetles and Bugs. Used in combination with beautifully shaded pencil drawings, the colorful and sometimes dramatic acrylic paintings of creatures (represented life-size, enlarged, or supersized) will draw readers to the book. The approachable text is quite informative as well. Writing in first person is chancy in a science book, but it works here because it springs from Arnosky's decades of observing nature and discovering how things work. Whether he writes of living in woods infested by gypsy moths or walking down a trail into a huge spiderweb, a personal narrative opens each section, which broadens to describe a group of insects or arachnids and offers facts about particular species alongside many pictures of the animals. An inviting, informative addition to science collections.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Combining larger-than-life illustrations and thoughtful field notes, Arnosky takes readers on a tour of insect life. Foldout spreads display mayflies, dragonflies, beetles, butterflies, moths, and more, with each insect vividly described: "The preying mantis is the T. Rex of the insect world." As with his other nature-themed books, Arnosky brings a personal and improvisational feeling to his work, including pencil sketches and writing that shares his own experiences ("We once lived in a woodland that was infested by gypsy moths.... They covered our roof, our walkway, and our road"). Arnosky's inquisitive spirit and gentle prose will likely move readers to take his cue to "be mindful of the small." Ages 6-10. Agent: Susan Schulman, Susan Schulman Literary Agency. (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-5-Seven sections focus on particular groups of arthropods (predominately insects) that are either members of the same order or share similar characteristics (e.g., beetles and true bugs; butterflies and moths; bees, wasps, ants, and flies). In each one, a page of text alternates with a vivid acrylic painting of one or more of the invertebrates; most open with an anecdote describing the author's encounter with, or observation of, the creatures, followed by a brief description of key characteristics. The margins are illustrated with pencil sketches. A special feature of most sections is that one, or both, of the facing pages can be lifted up and folded out to reveal about a dozen meticulously detailed paintings of species selected for their beauty and variety. Short blocks of text provide additional information on their physical and/or behavioral characteristics, diet, life cycles, etc., while accompanying silhouettes indicate actual size. Although the large illustrations are beautiful and the text is clearly written, organization of material is erratic and some important facts are omitted. Basic insect anatomy is only described in the last section, when it is compared to that of spiders; spiders' use of webs to snare prey is described, but the text doesn't explain that not all species are web-builders. The lack of an index is a definite handicap. Arnosky's title has strong visual appeal, but Judy Burris and Wayne Richards's The Secret Lives of Backyard Bugs (Storey, 2011) is a more thorough, better organized introduction to insects and spiders.-Karey Wehner, formerly at San Francisco Public Library (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
This introductory volume encourages readers to be "mindful of the small." Arnosky highlights specimens in labeled groupings that he presents--textually and visually--in accurate, captivating, and even tender detail. Conversational prose is illustrated with the author's own acrylic and pencil artwork, some "supersized," with magnification scale noted. The information-rich layouts are attractively designed; several fold-outs enable expansive viewing. Reading list. (c) Copyright 2012. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Larger-thanlife-size paintings, intricate drawings and a chatty, informative text combine to introduce the world of insects and spiders, "the largest biomass on Earth." Displaying his own boundless sense of wonder, Arnosky draws on personal experiences to attract his audience, describing a mayfly hatch in a trout-filled pond, a lady beetle that crashed near his woodstove, a yellow-striped grasshopper seen in the Everglades and more. The naturalist covers an astonishing variety--mayflies and dragonflies, beetles and bugs, caterpillars, moths and butterflies, grasshoppers and their relatives, bees, wasps, ants, flies and spiders. The information he provides is necessarily limited, but he's chosen facts likely to appeal. Short chapters are organized into familiar groups and separated by six fold-out pages (two are gate-folds) full of examples. Gorgeous, carefully crafted paintings show tiny details and often include a creature's habitat. The magnification is usually given, and silhouettes show actual size. Labeled pencil drawings add further detail and make comparisons. Although the author differentiates between a cocoon and a chrysalis, he does not clarify that calling the latter a cocoon as well is erroneous. He includes solid suggestions for further reading. A table of contents makes the organization clear, but an index would have been helpful. This is another splendid invitation to children to explore the natural world. (Informational picture book. 6-10)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
