Weird Insects

by Stephen Marshall

"This book provides a sneak peak into the diverse and often hidden world of nature's strangest insects."

Insects account for more than half of the more than 17,000,000 named species of living things. This fascinating book reveals a rare and close up look at the odd beauty of some of the strangest of these tiny creatures. Despite their large numbers, the world of these particularly weird insects exists largely hidden from our view. Included in the book are some of the most interesting insects from North and South America, the Caribbean, Australia, New Zealand and beyond.

"Weird Insects" features:
Beautiful photographs that show the insects in the wild Informative captions that provide fascinating details about the lives of these intriguing creatures.

The book will appeal to middle school students exploring topic ideas; younger students interested in wildlife and advanced readers who enjoy picture books.

Genres: Childrens, Nonfiction, Picture Books

64 pages, Hardcover

First published September 3, 2013

Reviews

[Yilaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 - Excellent and clear photos, good collection of interesting facts. My only wish is that it would have had appropriate images to accompany descriptions of how the fe/male/larvae look starkly different from whichever one is pictured. I suppose the single photos were an attempt to stick to the integrity of the one-photo format for each species mentioned. Definitely could pore over this museum of the tiny over and over again.

[K Morlando · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good class resource for our insect unit!

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok. The book says that some people keep the little guy (8 inches long) on the cover as pets. I'll pass on that. But seriously, this was a pretty awesome book. The photography was insanely close-up; to the swollen thighs of the Thick-legged Flower Beetle to the male genitalia of the Scorpionfly. Ouch! You have to see that one. The markings and colors of these insects are beautiful and come in handy to keep predators at bay.There are polka dots, eyes, hot pink and shiny rainbows, like the Rainbow Shield Bug; one of my personal favorites. Some of these bugs pack a punch. Some are stingers, prickers, and some just plain stinky. The insects names are cool too. The Giraffe-Necked Weevil get their name from their extended neck. It is crazy long. The Violin Beetle looks like? You guessed it. A violin. The Bulldog ant is crazy like a bulldog. The Red Velvet Ant tastes like Red Velvet cake. jk. It has furry red hair and quite pretty. Anyway, enough said. For you budding entomologists out there this is the book for you. Now go away. You're bugging me.

PS:
If you want to see the thunder thighs of the thick-legged flower beetle enlarge the picture on my profile.

[Marathon County Public Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Weird insects will amaze anyone remotely interested in insects. The book provides a magnifying glass look at insects from around the world. Each page is filled with a stunning and vibrant photo against a white page. Each page also lists insects’ common and scientific name as well as interesting facts about the insects’ characteristics and behavior. Budding naturalists will pore over the pictures and information. Insectaphobes beware.

Katie Z. / Marathon County Public Library
Find this book in our library catalog.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

The amazing photos make this look like a fantasy beastiary (a book of imaginary creatures), but these are real bugs. Real close-up pictures of real bugs in their six-legged, spiny, mandibled, poison-spiked glory. How could these have not come out of someone's twisted imagination? Or at least outer space?
For more great nonfiction for elementary-aged guys, see: http://www.talestoldtall.com/B4BENFSN...

[Brenda Kahn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing up-close and in your face photographs of a variety of insects from around the world. Set against a white background, with just a paragraph of info, the details really stand out. Unfortunately, there is no way of knowing the scale and there seems to be no rhyme or reason to the order of the insects. There are no sources nor are there suggestions for further reading, so not useful for report writers but your browsers will love it. Wow, these photos are amazing.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully done paperback book, colors provided by nature are enchanting and the little insects are wonderfully crafted. I learned many things I didn't know. About an hour of reading but worthy of many return visits for seeing a group of little beings that share earth with us while often going unnoticed.

[Destiny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the large, full colored images of the insects and found the small paragraph of information on each insect interesting. This book does a good job of showing interesting insects that don't normally appear in your regular insect books.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stunning photography! This is a very interesting and quick read about a lot of creepy crawlies throughout the world. The format is fabulous - the use of white backgrounds really shows off the insect.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful photos! I wish there was some sense of scale.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son recently became fascinated with insects, and there are some fascinating insects in this book. And some really great, detailed, close-up photos of those insects, too.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully photographed buggies from around the world!