Boing! A Bouncy Book of Bugs

If it jiggles just a little

or its home is in the mud

or it wiggles down its middle…

oh indeed- it’s a bug!

Exuberant, energetic and engaging, ‘Boing! A Bouncy Book of Bugs’ not only offers a collection of twenty-four poems about insects, but plenty of fascinating facts as well.

All manner of insects are included from ants to moths, fireflies to bed bugs. Each spread is full of brightly coloured appealing illustrations which capture the mood and theme of the verse. Children are sure to admire the strength of the mighty dung beetle, be fascinated by the Elephant Tear Moth and perhaps learn to appreciate the ‘woefully under-appreciated’ wasp.

For teachers, the book offers great potential! Many of the poems here would make brilliant performance pieces for classes, individuals or pairs- ‘The Moth and the Moon’, for example, or ‘Boing!’- which (like many in the collection) is perfect for adding movements to! The variety of poetic forms used is great for introducing young children to some of the different styles which can be used and might also be used as models to inspire their own writing. ‘Me No Dragon’ shows how successfully Kennings can be used as a way of describing something. But above all, the poems are fun, sure to engage and be enjoyed!

Boing! A Bouncy Book of Bugs

James Carter, illustrated by Neal Layton

Otter-Barry Books ISBN: 978-1915659507

NNFN2024: Insectarium

The latest addition to the ‘Welcome to the Museum’ books, ‘Insectarium’, does not disappoint fans of this incredible series. Like the others, it is beautifully presented, allowing readers to explore the fascinating world of insects in detail and at their leisure.

Moving from Gallery to Gallery, every page is a celebration of ‘the most beautiful, fascinating and peculiar insects’, from their evolution to the need to protect and care for them today. The large format encourages readers to share these books and I have often seen children lying on the floor, grouped around books in this series, completely immersed in poring over every detail of the pictures and exploring the text. Offering a quality reading experience from the quality of the paper to the detail of the illustrations, children recognise and enjoy these books for what they are- something special!

I am not a fan of the term ‘gift book’ as I believe every book is a gift, but for both adults and children, ‘Insectarium’ is a book which will be treasured and returned to again and again!

Welcome to the Museum: Insectarium

curated by Emily Carter and Dave Goulson

Big Picture Press and the Royal Entomological Society ISBN: 978-1800782563

Bothered by Bugs

Pete the badger is happily sharing a recipe book with the other woodland creatures when a pesky fly ruins everything. Soon all the animals are busy catching every fly they can find and putting them in jars. Then they notice that there are bugs everywhere and quickly scoop them up too. At last, the woods are free from all these pests…But the animals soon realise that with all the bugs in jars, there is no one to do the pollinating or break down all the waste materials.

‘Bothered by Bugs’ is another instant classic from the wonder that is Emily Gravett. Pete- star of the previous books ‘Tidy’ and ‘Too Much Stuff’- is well known for his love of neatness and order, but in this story, he learns just how important these ‘annoying’ creatures are to the ecosystem and how interference with the natural order of things can have a devastating impact on the environment. Told in rhyming text, the story is an absolute joy to read aloud!

The illustrations are fabulous, full of detail and humour, and children will have fun spotting characters from ‘Tidy’ and ‘Too Much Stuff’ who make an appearance. But the joy doesn’t stop there! Lift the dust jacket of ‘Bothered by Bugs’ and the book which Pete is reading, ‘How to Cook Fruit: A Culinary Badger’s Guide to Preparing Fruit’, is revealed, complete with tea stains and badger paw prints. There are recipes to try on the end papers, including a very tasty looking Summer Pudding which we will by trying! The inside cover of the dust jacket shows the bugs which the woodland creatures capture, offering an instant guide to insects, allowing children to become insect spotters and come to appreciate the roles which they play.

Perfect for using as a Book Hook for activities at a story session, for sharing at home or using to inspire work in school, ‘Bothered by Bugs’ is another must have title from Emily Gravett.

Bothered by Bugs

Emily Gravett

Two Hoots ISBN: 978- 1529028065

You can read my review of ‘Tidy’ here, ‘Too Much Stuff’ here and ‘Cyril and Pat’ here.

Please Don’t Bite Me

Buzzing with irritating insects, this fascinating book allows the reader to find out more about mosquitoes, lice, wasps, cockroaches, fleas, and bedbugs, creatures which have annoyed people for centuries. Starting with an introduction which defines what an insect is and explains what entomologists (those who study insects) are, the book then investigates each insect in turn.

From their appearance to their life cycles, the book offers a detailed look each of these insects, including their relationship with humans through the ages. I have only ever once seen a cockroach when in Greece- and am even more determined never to see one again having read the information in the book! Despite all their irritating and disgusting ways, the author manages to sound quite fond of them, certainly piquing the reader’s curiosity!

Owen Davey has worked his magic with the illustrations once more, making the book as visually appealing as it is fascinating. Each spread is beautifully presented, colourful and engaging, making this a very tempting and informative read with a glossary, index and content making it useful for locating information. An excellent read!

Please Don’t Bite Me: Insects that Buzz, Bite and Stong

Nazzy Pakpour, illustrated by Owen Davey

Flying Eye Books ISBN: 978-1838740900