Insectarium

by Dave Goulson, Emily Carter, Ce Santiago (translator)

Un museo que está abierto a todas horas y que alberga una increíble colección de insectos de todo el mundo, desde caballitos del diablo hasta el enorme escarabajo Hércules. Esta colección también incluye especímenes raros e inusuales, algunos de las cuales quizá no hayas visto nunca. Descubre cómo han evolucionado los insectos, su asombrosa variedad de formas y colores, cómo colaboran para sobrevivir y lo importantes que son para la vida en nuestro planeta.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Picture Books, Nature, Science Nature, Childrens

98 pages, Hardcover

Published October 21, 2024

About the author

After a childhood chasing butterflies and collecting bird’s eggs, I studied Biology at Oxford University, and then did a PhD on butterfly ecology at Oxford Brookes University. Shortly afterwards I got a lectureship at University of Southampton, where I stayed for 11 years. It was there that I began to specialize in bumblebee ecology and conservation. In 2006 I became Professor of Biology and Stirling University. In 2006 I also founded the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, a charity devoted to reversing bumblebee declines. In 2013 I moved to Sussex University.

I have published over 200 scientific articles on the ecology of bees and other insects, and am author of Bumblebees: Behaviour, Ecology and Conservation (2010, Oxford University Press) and A Sting in the Tale (2013, Jonathan Cape), a popular science book about bumblebees. A Buzz in the Meadow (Jonathon Cape) is due to be published in September 2014.

I am a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. In 2010 I was BBSRC "Social Innovator of the Year" and in 2013 I won the Marsh Award for Conservation Biology from the Zoological Society of London.

Reviews

[Marta Demianiuk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bardzo lubię te albumy z serii Muzeum. Wiedza w skondensowanej formie, a do tego przepiękne ilustracje.

[Caro · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️
Only because I think it could have included even more insects that are iconic. Otherwise, fantastic book (as the whole series is)

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful resource on insects, classified in “galleries” such as Moths & Butterflies, Wasps, Ants & Bees, Beetles & Relatives and Ancient Insects that includes the lovely cockroaches and termites along with crickets and dragonflies. Solid information for the budding entomologist with full page illustrations. This would be very useful in a school or public library or in a Science classroom except that it is oversized, coming in at 11” x 15”. This size will make it difficult to shelve in most libraries; even tucked in sideways, it will stick out in a way that surely means frequent bumping by library patrons as they browse and impossible to show off the beautiful cover or spine with the title stamped on it. May make an interesting coffee table book or showpiece on top of a short bookshelf.

Thanks for sharing this finished copy with me Big Picture Press/Candlewick Press.

[Richie Partington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richie’s Picks: INSECTARIUM (Welcome to the Museum series) by Dave Goulson and Emily Carter, ill., Candlewick/Big Picture Press, May 2025, 112p., ISBN: 978-1-5362-4114-3

“Dragonfly, fly by my window
You and I still have a way to go
Don't know why you hang around my door
I don't live here any more
Since you've gone, I never know
I go on, but I miss you so”
– Paul McCartney (1973)

“I was born in a
fine old edition of Schiller
While I started life
in a private eye thriller…”
–opening lines of “Book Lice” from JOYFUL NOISE: POEMS FOR TWO VOICES by Paul Fleischman (1988)

“Thrips, Lice, Book Lice, and Bark Lice
These obscure groups of insects are much maligned, despite their tiny sizes. Their biting and feeding habits and their ability to damage crops and, in some cases, transmit diseases such as typhus mean they are often considered irritants or pests. However, of the thousands of species of thrips, lice, book lice, and bark lice many are harmless to humans and other animals and play important ecological roles in their natural habitats. For example, thrips are important pollinators, while book lice and bark lice help to recycle dead leaves.”

So begins the entry on this particular group of insects. The complete three-paragraph introduction to them is accompanied by a 9” x 13” full page illustration depicting blown-up images of six different species of thrips and lice against a black velvety background. Think of an imaginary museum case. The remainder of the oversized two-page spread is devoted to the key for the illustrations. Such as:

“Head louse
Pediculus humanus capitis
Length: Up to ⅛ inch/3 mm
A contender for the least popular insect, this species is found only on the scalps of humans, attaching its eggs to hair. Although this insect causes irritation, it does no serious harm.”

Like with Goldilocks, the details in the three dozen-plus entries making up this coffee table-sized piece of illustrated nonfiction are neither too few nor too many. Along with the attention-grabbing blown-up insect images, the details are just right for catching and holding the attention (horror, fascination) of nine- through fourteen year-olds.

The book, first published in Britain, contains a preface by the president of the Royal Entomological Society, and contains a wealth of conservation info in addition to the eye-catching lessons for budding entomologists.

Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
richiepartington@gmail.com

[YSBR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fans of Big Picture Press’s other eye-popping Welcome to the Museum books (Oceanarium, Fungarium, Anatomicum, etc.) will be excited to check out this new addition to the lineup. Following the same format as the earlier entries, Insectarium invites readers to page through a truly incredible collection of images, all hand-drawn in pen-and-ink (color has been digitally added), which allow us to study these often tiny-creatures in all their magnified glory. The book is laid out like an imaginary museum, with various galleries for us to visit. The "entrance" that we come to first provides a definition, a tree of life, and information on evolution. Then we progress through a series of facsimile rooms, each focused on a specific group of animals, including ancient insects, true bugs, true flies, lacewings, beetles, moths and butterflies, and finally, wasps, ants, and bees. Well-written introductions to each section employ sophisticated language, but will definitely be accessible for strong, upper-elementary readers. And of course, the gorgeous full-color illustrations, which resemble old-fashioned zoological plates complete with numbered descriptions, will tempt even much younger children to leaf through the pages, clamoring for any handy adult to read the accompanying information. Each section also includes a fanciful and labeled terrarium to help readers explore the habitat for a subset of  the gallery’s inhabitants. For example, the section on lacewings includes a small facsimile desert, complete with a flowering cactus and the appropriate ant, beetle, grasshopper, cochineal, and butterfly. The periodic appearance of these elegant glass containers, plus the book’s obsessively organized specimens, really reinforce the fantasy that we’re in a Victorian museum or perhaps even opening the door to a cabinet of curiosities in the home of an eccentric British collector. The back matter includes an index with both common and scientific names for all the featured insects, information on the author (a biology professor), and links to specific insect-fact websites. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This oversized book is an encyclopedia full of amazing illustrations and bios of all kinds of insects. The pages are made of heavy paper and feel very educational and museum-like. Half of all the species on Earth are considered to be insects. More than a million insect species have already been named, with the possibility of there being another four million that we don’t even know about yet. Reading through this book makes me feel like I am in a scientific lab learning all about the various insects from history to the present day.

The insects are divided into categories where kids will learn about all of the insects as well as their habitats. From ponds, forests, and gardens, kids will learn where to find insects. The pages are full of the most beautiful of butterflies and the ugliest of lice; kids will learn about numerous insects and their importance to our habitats and the cycle of life.

Even young children can enjoy the illustrations of all the insects, but older kids will learn from the brief descriptions about the various insects. The illustrations are incredibly detailed, and all will find the various insects very fascinating to look at. From learning how males and females may look different to their different roles to their scientific names, your child will be an insect expert after reading this book.

The end of the book includes a page about saving the insects. Monarch butterflies have declined by 80% in the last 30 years. Many insect species have already gone extinct. Their habitats have been destroyed by weather events, fires, and commercialization. But, there are tips for how to create a space for insects in your garden, with a reminder not to use chemicals.

I can’t say enough about how amazing this book is. This is the tenth book in the Welcome to the Museum series, and I can only imagine how wonderful the other books in the series would be. From animals to dinosaurs to plants and space, there is a book for every curious child.

[Eve Costarelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get ready to be blown away! This book is stunning and fascinating and full of beautiful rendered insects! WOW! The end pages are covered by stunning “sun-print like” silhouettes of a plethora of insects with wings, without wings, with long legs, with bent legs, with many legs ... .just amazing! The book kicks off with a great introductory writing about the beautiful and amazing world of insects-just enough info to kick off a deeper dive into insect evolution, what exactly is an insect (and not all insects are bugs! Figure that?!), and even the insects' connection to ancient history. This book is a complete visual guide to the insect world, making it a truly accessible and useful tool for the budding entomologist, ecologist, and is so satisfying for the curious mind. This is truly a book for all ages. Get one for your coffee table (get all of the Welcome To The Museum series!) The insects are a fine mixture between common insects, more unusual ones and are a mix of beauty and eeeeeeeek-factory. The art is exquisite. The insects colors and markings are mind boggling up so close. Love this addition to the Welcome To The Museum series. Each one is equally fantastic.

[V · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love Insectarium. The oversized book captures the reader's attention, and the stunning illustrations and fascination descriptions captivate her. The descriptions of each insect hold the perfect level of detail. Some pages cover insect habitats, others address specific species, and others introduce insect groups. This is not a book that requires cover-to-cover reading, but once reading commences, it is hard to put it down! Between the full-page color illustrations (with their accompanying keys identifying each insect and its notable characteristics) and the informational text, Insectarium is absolutely incredible on all counts!

[Cristina Di Matteo · Rating 5 out of 5]

INSECTARIUM Il grande libro degli insetti di Dave Goulson e Emily Carter. Uno strabiliante ed enorme insettario illustrato per bambini perfetto per immergersi nel vasto e affascinante mondo di alcune delle creature più particolari del nostro pianeta, un viaggio istruttivo e visivamente splendido nel microcosmo degli insetti. Da 6 anni <3 https://ilmondodichri.com/insectarium/

#insectarium #rizzoli #insettario

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ordered this from the UK so I didn't have to wait until May for the US copy. It is lovely and a great addition to the series but not a lotto butterflies.

[Lusanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mooi voor in de schoolbieb!

[Gośka A · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good, so beautiful.

[Zendurak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful!

[Els · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insecten. Tekst: Dave Goulson. Illustraties: Emily Carter.

Wow, in de reeks grote en grootse boeken is er een nieuw deeltje verschenen. Na Het dierenboek, Het plantenboek en Het ruimteboek is er nu ook Insecten.

Een (letterlijk) groot boek (38 cm hoog) voor een klein ding; namelijk een insect. Wat is dat eigenlijk, een insect? Weet jij het? Insecten zijn geleedpotigen met 3 paar poten, ze verschenen 480 miljoen jaar geleden, waren de eerste dieren die konden vliegen én voor elke mens op aarde zijn er 1,4 miljard insecten! Cool hé!? Goed dat er nu een geweldig boek helemaal aan hen is gewijd.

Goulson kennen we al langer. Hij is een ontzettend getalenteerde professor biologie die goed kan schrijven, boeiend weet te vertellen, voorvechter voor het behoud van insecten is en menig lezer de ogen heeft geopend voor de wereld om ons heen en waarom die onze bescherming verdient.

Samen met Carter zorgt hij voor een indrukwekkend boeiend, mooi en leerrijk boek. Prachtige platen fleuren de interessante pagina’s vol portretten van insecten en weetjes op. Veenmollen, monarchvlinders, kakkerlakken, meikevers en maartse vliegen; ze komen allemaal voorbij en betoveren en veroveren de harten van ons lezers.

Wie na dit boek nog steeds denkt dat insecten vieze kriebelbeestjes zijn is niet goed wijs. Geen betere manier om vol goesting te gaan ‘appen, niet meppen’!