Nonfiction for very, very young readers is tricky. But Angela DiTerlizzi cracks the code in the delightful book Some Bugs. In fewer than 100 words, she gives us a wonderful glimpse of the wide variety of things insects can do.
The wonderful rhymes give the book a feeling of playfulness.
Some bugs sting.
Some bugs bite.
Some bugs stink.
And some bugs FIGHT!
Simple words and simple predictable rhymes. Yet the scientific concepts conveyed are astonishingly sophisticated: insects have many different shapes and behaviors; insects live all around you; observation is an important scientific skill.
The illustrations match the playfulness of the text. Every insect has big, heart-warming eyes. But they’re also obviously insects. After the main text is over, there is one exuberant spread where every insect shown in the book is labeled by name.
This is a great nonfiction title for preschoolers or for beginning readers.
Some Bugs by Angela DiTerlizzi, illustrated by Brenda Wenzel. Beach Lane Books: 2014.
I participate in the Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge at KidLit Frenzy.
The illustrations look wonderful, too, Annette. This is new to me. Thanks for the review!
I adore this book! Wonderful also for buddy reading between older and younger students.
Such stunning illustrations!! I love the simplicity of the text, very engaging and accessible for newer readers. This is a new title to me, and I have already put a hold on it, can’t wait to read it.