Reviews for Bugs from head to tail

School Library Journal
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

PreS-Gr 2-This delightful nonfiction picture book follows companions Dinosaurs from Head to Tail and Ocean Animals from Head to Tail in a series of enlightening texts that look and read like fiction. This installment has the same format as the previous works, opening with a spread depicting a close-up of an animal part and posing a question (for example, "What bug has antennae like this?"). Turn the page, and a wider view of the whole creature in its natural environment is revealed, accompanied by a detailed explanation of that particular species and how it uses its body to survive. The digital illustrations, created using photographs of paper and textures, are eye-catching, with bright colors, varying patterns, and dimension. The pictures are complemented by informative, engaging text. This title features bugs that will likely be familiar to children (ladybug, monarch butterfly) and those that are not (rhinoceros beetle). The story is succinct, as only eight bugs are included, but an additional seven are mentioned and illustrated on the last two pages. This would work well as a read-aloud and could easily launch a discussion or spark art projects or crafts. VERDICT A successful example of read-aloud nonfiction that would be a welcome addition to most library collections.-Lindsay Jensen, Nashville Public Library © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.


Horn Book
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Introductions to arthropods (insects, arachnids, and myriapods) are disguised as a kid-appealing guessing game. Readers learn about eight kinds of bugs by looking at a body part and guessing which creature it belongs to; turn the page for a cut-paper illustration showing the whole creature and a descriptive paragraph about it. "Other Awesome Bugs" are mentioned at book's end. (c) Copyright 2018. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.


Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

In this introductory picture book, each of eight different "bugs" is allotted four pages, which include an initial, illustrated question followed by the answer and then additional art and text.Following the title's lead, the first question, in large lettering on the verso, is "What kind of bug has a head like this?" An enormous paper collage resembling the head of a rhinoceros spreads across both pages. Upon turning the page, the lettering triumphantly announces, "A rhinoceros beetle!" and gives a few exciting facts about the creature. On this double-page spread, a full-bodied, paper-collage rhinoceros beetle is surrounded by its environmentcreated from mixed-media, including photographs of stones and underbrush. Equally impressive combinations of art and text follow. The text is clear, and scientific vocabulary includes concise definitions, as in "These wings are part of the ladybug's exoskeleton, or outside skeleton.' " The questions move from head to antennae to eyes to body to wings to hair to legs to tailwith "tail" explained as a trick question. The final double-page spread offers a gallery of seven more "awesome bugs" and a sidebar about further classifications. Every digitally created habitat collage is a worthy match to the carefully worded text. The round, wide-pupiled eyes of the bugs make them alleven the tarantulaappear benign and endearing. Even the aquamarine endpapers abound with friendly bug images. Attractive, informative, and beautifully designed. (Informational picture book. 4-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.


Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.

With vibrant mixed media, collages, and a playful Q&A format, this inviting volume introduces eight different bugs by highlighting each one's various attributes. Each bug is given two full-page spreads, the first of which features a tantalizing close-up of a specific physical trait and question; for example, What kind of bug has antennae like this? Flip page for the reveal A luna moth! and the featured insect is fully presented in its natural environment, with an accompanying, smaller-text paragraph explaining the specified trait's use and importance (for example, The luna moth uses its two feathery-looking antennae for finding its way and for smelling ), plus some related facts. The bugs range from the familiar (ladybug, monarch butterfly) to less common (rhinoceros beetle, millipede), while the attributes progress (naturally) from head to tail. Appended are seven additional awesome bugs, accompanied by more facts and a brief A Bit More about Bugs sidebar, including scientific nomenclature. This charming, read-aloud-friendly take on a popular topic is both entertaining and informative.--Shelle Rosenfeld Copyright 2019 Booklist

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