Bugs!

By Nick Forshaw and William Exley

Why we chose this book:
T is interested in bugs right now - finding them, catching them, keeping them as pets... When I came across this history of bugs (since the dawn of time) with a long fold-out timeline, I contacted the publisher for a review copy, which they provided.

Review

A unique approach to bug history: a secret agent must travel back in time to create a report on the complete history of bug life. Set up like a graphic novel and explorer's notebook and including a six foot timeline at the end, this is eye-catching and engrossing. Agent Eagle introduces himself at the start, explaining his mission in the graphic novel portion. We learn about each era of bug life, as well as humans' interactions with bugs in the explorer's notebook portion. Hand-drawn illustrations, basic facts, and cool trivia combine to make this an interesting read.

Bugs! is intended for ages 6-15, but T has liked having it read to him repeatedly. As you might imagine, we skip around when reading; this would also work for older children. Each four-page section has a two-page spread that features a handful of bugs; this is ideal for reading with T (his dad and I do a fair amount of explaining). T particularly likes the chapter on human interactions with bugs, learning about different bug researchers. He also loves the timeline, pointing out different bugs and saying things like, "This bug looks like a monster. Like these are his fangs and these are his claws." When I asked T to show me his favorite (see below), he spontaneously announced, "First there was ocean. Then there was land. And then there was grass. First there was sun. And then there was land and there there was that [bug]." I think that this timeline has been key in his comprehension of change through the years.

T loves it and will grow into it. I love it already for him (and my own edification). Content and delivery combined make this a treasure.

T pointing out his favorite bugs:

 

Here's one of the explorer notebook pages.