Nature All Around: Bugs by Pamela Hickman, Carolyn Gavin
Series: Nature All Around #2
Published by Kids Can Press on September 3rd 2019
ISBN: 177138820X
Pages: 32
Goodreads

From the same author/illustrator team that created Trees, Bugs is the second book in the Nature All Around series. Bugs is filled to the brim with information, and a joy to behold visually. Beauty abounds in the depictions of even the most homely bugs, encouraging readers to view these oftentimes underappreciated creatures in a new light. The table of contents, glossary, and index are all easy to navigate. Pamela Hickman utilizes clear and concise text to explain each topic, making the information easily digestible. Paired with Carolyn Gavin’s beautiful watercolor and gouache illustrations, scientific concepts come to life with vibrancy. Pages include eye-catching text headings to draw the reader into the page, and allow for children to choose whether they would prefer to read the book cover-to-cover, or pick and choose topics of interest. Hickman not only provides readers with a wealth of information about bugs, she also encourages children to actively engage with and observe these creatures in nature. Chapters titled Beginner Bug-Watching, Make an Insect Feeder, and Endangered Bugs all encourage children to participate in hands-on learning and conservation. Recommended for kids 7 – 10, this book would be a valuable resource to teachers, parents, and budding entomologists alike.

Reviewed by Jennifer Benham, Prince Memorial Library, Cumberland