All the Insects in the World

Gr 1-4–Close to 200 different insects are depicted in fine detail in this caterpillar’s-eye view of the insect world. A soon-to-be transformed monarch caterpillar plays narrator to information about a vast array of crawling, flying, and swimming insects from different habitats. Included in the text is a brief history of the insect world, simple descriptions, information about the life cycle, and a more detailed view of the metamorphosis of the caterpillar into a monarch. (The illustrations focus on the outer appearance of the insects and do not include a diagram of body parts, though these are described in the text.) Visually appealing scenes of blue skies, colorful flowers, and brown dirt provide a good contrast to the bugs, beetles, and butterflies scattered across the pages. The text is aimed at confident readers, but there are plenty of images to keep younger children happy, with each insect identified by name in the back of the book. Back matter includes an author’s note, glossary, more information about monarch butterflies, and a detailed and numbered identification key to the featured insects.