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Wicked Bugs: The Meanest, Deadliest, Grossest Bugs on Earth
The middle-grade adaptation of Amy Stewart s Wicked Bugs features profiles of the world's scariest, deadliest, and grossest bugs, from the most painful hornet to flies that transmit deadly diseases to millipedes that stop traffic, to bookworms that devour libraries. With its featured bugs organized by categories that match the upper elementary science curriculum, this humorous, fascinating, and seriously icky book will have full-color illustrations throughout in a primary paperback edition with a simultaneous library edition.
192 pages, Paperback
First published August 8, 2017
16 people are currently reading
646 people want to read
About the author
Amy Stewart
25 books2,528 followersAmy Stewart is the New York Times bestselling author of over a dozen books, including Girl Waits with Gun, Lady Cop Makes Trouble, The Drunken Botanist, and Wicked Plants.
She lives in Portland with her husband Scott Brown, a rare book dealer.
Stay connected with Amy via her newsletter , where she offers cocktail recipes, creative inspiration, book recommendations, and more!
She lives in Portland with her husband Scott Brown, a rare book dealer.
Stay connected with Amy via her newsletter , where she offers cocktail recipes, creative inspiration, book recommendations, and more!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
August 18, 2017
This book is for kids that love the creepiest, slimiest, and grossest critters on earth. Told through stories and facts, Wicked Bugs is for kids that like nature, science, and that uncomfortable, squirmy feeling you get when you think about roaches crawling over your skin.
It's wildly fascinating, with information on things like tapeworms and tarantulas as well as shocking facts about earthworms and ants.
For whatever reason, kids love things that make adults shudder. So, if your kid has jars of bugs in their room or is always trying to show you their latest catch, they'll love this book!
Source: The publisher sent me a copy of this book.
It's wildly fascinating, with information on things like tapeworms and tarantulas as well as shocking facts about earthworms and ants.
For whatever reason, kids love things that make adults shudder. So, if your kid has jars of bugs in their room or is always trying to show you their latest catch, they'll love this book!
Source: The publisher sent me a copy of this book.
August 25, 2017
This particular book was strongly recommended by my sister but basically is "Wicked Bugs" directed to a juvenile audience. As such this will be one of my most interesting and yet oddball reviews I have ever written.
So the changes in this book are what has given this book an extra star in its rating when compared to the original. First of all there is an introductory part that explains the process of scientific categorizing as well as what sp and spp means when the reader will trip across them in their reading. And secondly there is an added glossary in the back.
Other changes include colored pictures taken right from the black-and-white originals, a better organization with the tab descriptions such as dangerous, destructive, etc. as they are now grouped in sections and a bookwide clean-up to focus on the younger audiences thus cutting the length of some of the entries. Finally the last noticeable change is the Meet the Relatives section is now included in the scientific box instead of being tacked onto the end of each entry.
Otherwise the author keeps her explaination as to the misuse of the term bugs and her informative style although not her gorgeous cover.
In the end this will be a good read for those who enjoy both the good and bad sides of insects as well as those who may not want to tackle the bigger original offhand.
So the changes in this book are what has given this book an extra star in its rating when compared to the original. First of all there is an introductory part that explains the process of scientific categorizing as well as what sp and spp means when the reader will trip across them in their reading. And secondly there is an added glossary in the back.
Other changes include colored pictures taken right from the black-and-white originals, a better organization with the tab descriptions such as dangerous, destructive, etc. as they are now grouped in sections and a bookwide clean-up to focus on the younger audiences thus cutting the length of some of the entries. Finally the last noticeable change is the Meet the Relatives section is now included in the scientific box instead of being tacked onto the end of each entry.
Otherwise the author keeps her explaination as to the misuse of the term bugs and her informative style although not her gorgeous cover.
In the end this will be a good read for those who enjoy both the good and bad sides of insects as well as those who may not want to tackle the bigger original offhand.
May 26, 2017
I was fortunate to receive an Advance Reading Copy of this book.
This is a fun chapter book for elementary age readers who are obsessed with deadly creatures. (An obsession I can relate to from back when I was that age!) The book is filled with scary, deadly and sometimes horrifying delights for young readers. Some might be nightmare-provoking (the tongue eating louse?) but overall it's thrills, chills and an entertaining read. I was a little puzzled by the absence of funnel web spiders, since they are pretty darn deadly. Nevertheless, there is a fine assortment of scary creatures.
This is a fun chapter book for elementary age readers who are obsessed with deadly creatures. (An obsession I can relate to from back when I was that age!) The book is filled with scary, deadly and sometimes horrifying delights for young readers. Some might be nightmare-provoking (the tongue eating louse?) but overall it's thrills, chills and an entertaining read. I was a little puzzled by the absence of funnel web spiders, since they are pretty darn deadly. Nevertheless, there is a fine assortment of scary creatures.
December 31, 2017
***This book was reviewed for Algonquin Young Readers via Netgalley
Stewart's Wicked Bugs: Young Reader’s Edition is a condensed version of Wicked Bugs: The Louse that Conquered Napoleon's Army and Other Diabolical Insects geared towards middle-aged readers. Replete with photos and beautiful pencil sketches, this book is divided into six sections, each ending in a specialised essay.
'Deadly Creatures’ looks at dangerous bugs that don't seem to fit one of the other chapters, including mosquitos and tsetse flies. I learned a great deal of fascinating information about plague under the Oriental Rat Flea. The ending essay looked at the more dangerous scorpion species.
'Everyday Dangers’ focused on beasties such as lice and ticks. The end essay focused on parasitic worms. Eww. That's all I have to say.
'Unwelcome Invaders’ examines invasive species, either to regions or dwellings. I never would have thought of earthworms as being undesirable. Who knew. The essay looked at invaders of a different sort- bugs that create zombies out of other bugs. Creepy.
'Destructive Pests’ showcases bugs that can cause widespread destruction, such as species that undermine houses and other buildings, like termites and deathwatch beetles. The end essay focused on forensic entomology and insects that partake of a more unusual destructive streak. Being a person long interested in forensics, and having once studied forensic anthropology, a discipline closely linked, this was my favourite essay.
‘Serious Pains’ are just that. These critters, including the Asian Giant Hornet, or the Giant Centipede, deliver painful bites or stings. Or machine-gun rapid salvos of acid. Because why not? The section wraps up by looking at dangerous ant species, and at the Schmidt Guide to sting and bite intensity. I loved the sarcasm dripping from the descriptions.
'Terrible Threats’ are beasties with a fearsome reputation like the black widow, or those that cause terrifying infestations leading to things like blindness. Um, no thanks. The essay is just as bad, covering a variety of maggots that prefer to dwell under human skin. Quite a far cry from the maggots used in maggot therapy, that only eat dead flesh so they are used to gangrenous wounds and necrotic flesh. I don't want either on or in me though, if we are being honest.
📚📚📚📚 Recommended. Packed full of neat facts and information, this book is sure to please any bug-lovers in the family
Stewart's Wicked Bugs: Young Reader’s Edition is a condensed version of Wicked Bugs: The Louse that Conquered Napoleon's Army and Other Diabolical Insects geared towards middle-aged readers. Replete with photos and beautiful pencil sketches, this book is divided into six sections, each ending in a specialised essay.
'Deadly Creatures’ looks at dangerous bugs that don't seem to fit one of the other chapters, including mosquitos and tsetse flies. I learned a great deal of fascinating information about plague under the Oriental Rat Flea. The ending essay looked at the more dangerous scorpion species.
'Everyday Dangers’ focused on beasties such as lice and ticks. The end essay focused on parasitic worms. Eww. That's all I have to say.
'Unwelcome Invaders’ examines invasive species, either to regions or dwellings. I never would have thought of earthworms as being undesirable. Who knew. The essay looked at invaders of a different sort- bugs that create zombies out of other bugs. Creepy.
'Destructive Pests’ showcases bugs that can cause widespread destruction, such as species that undermine houses and other buildings, like termites and deathwatch beetles. The end essay focused on forensic entomology and insects that partake of a more unusual destructive streak. Being a person long interested in forensics, and having once studied forensic anthropology, a discipline closely linked, this was my favourite essay.
‘Serious Pains’ are just that. These critters, including the Asian Giant Hornet, or the Giant Centipede, deliver painful bites or stings. Or machine-gun rapid salvos of acid. Because why not? The section wraps up by looking at dangerous ant species, and at the Schmidt Guide to sting and bite intensity. I loved the sarcasm dripping from the descriptions.
'Terrible Threats’ are beasties with a fearsome reputation like the black widow, or those that cause terrifying infestations leading to things like blindness. Um, no thanks. The essay is just as bad, covering a variety of maggots that prefer to dwell under human skin. Quite a far cry from the maggots used in maggot therapy, that only eat dead flesh so they are used to gangrenous wounds and necrotic flesh. I don't want either on or in me though, if we are being honest.
📚📚📚📚 Recommended. Packed full of neat facts and information, this book is sure to please any bug-lovers in the family
October 19, 2017
Thanks to Goodreads and Thomas Allen & Son for a free copy of this book.
Wicked Bugs: The Meanest, Deadliest, Grossest Bugs On Earth is a hard title to live up to but Amy Stewart does not disappoint. I found this Young Readers Edition fascinating from the beginning right through to the end. The book is well organized, starting with a brief but entertaining introduction, followed by a one page explanation of scientific classification, and then six sections titled Deadly Creatures, Everyday Dangers, Unwelcome Invaders, Destructive Pests, Serious Pains, and Terrible Threats. Each of those sections covers 5 - 9 bugs with facts, anecdotes, and illustrations for each. Finally, there is a section on bug phobias, a glossary, a list of resources, a bibliography, and an index.
The material can be creepy and disgusting at times (we are talking about bugs after all). So maybe, don't read this book while eating and not before you go to bed.
But I highly recommend it for readers, young and old. If you're not already interested in bugs, you will be after reading Wicked Bugs.
Wicked Bugs: The Meanest, Deadliest, Grossest Bugs On Earth is a hard title to live up to but Amy Stewart does not disappoint. I found this Young Readers Edition fascinating from the beginning right through to the end. The book is well organized, starting with a brief but entertaining introduction, followed by a one page explanation of scientific classification, and then six sections titled Deadly Creatures, Everyday Dangers, Unwelcome Invaders, Destructive Pests, Serious Pains, and Terrible Threats. Each of those sections covers 5 - 9 bugs with facts, anecdotes, and illustrations for each. Finally, there is a section on bug phobias, a glossary, a list of resources, a bibliography, and an index.
The material can be creepy and disgusting at times (we are talking about bugs after all). So maybe, don't read this book while eating and not before you go to bed.
But I highly recommend it for readers, young and old. If you're not already interested in bugs, you will be after reading Wicked Bugs.
September 2, 2017
I received a copy of this book from the author through the Goodreads Giveaway Program.
Amy Stewart has written a book that is not for the squeamish. But it will definitely appeal to any budding entomologist or natural scientist! I can see elementary school boys, and some girls, sharing facts from the book and being both 'grossed out' and 'enthralled.'
Interesting facts about locusts, (...a locust is little more than a grasshopper under stress), puss caterpillars, (which live throughout the southern United States, can cause pain which feels like 'a hammer hit me' just from brushing up against it) and cockroaches (which are known to crawl into people's ears and get stuck.)
If you're at all interested in bugs, this is a book you'll definitely enjoy and the illustrations are gorgeous.
Amy Stewart has written a book that is not for the squeamish. But it will definitely appeal to any budding entomologist or natural scientist! I can see elementary school boys, and some girls, sharing facts from the book and being both 'grossed out' and 'enthralled.'
Interesting facts about locusts, (...a locust is little more than a grasshopper under stress), puss caterpillars, (which live throughout the southern United States, can cause pain which feels like 'a hammer hit me' just from brushing up against it) and cockroaches (which are known to crawl into people's ears and get stuck.)
If you're at all interested in bugs, this is a book you'll definitely enjoy and the illustrations are gorgeous.
November 30, 2018
Creepy crawlers at their best...or worst. This kid's version of the adult book is a great quick read that hits the basics without going too deep. Scientific terms are explained (not that I needed them explained) and scare factors are present. Do not read this book to change your mind about bugs (in the colloquial sense) but just to learn more about why you need to be aware of them.
September 21, 2017
If you have a young reader that likes bugs, this book is for them. Deadly, Destructive, Threatening and Unwelcome are vividly described within the pages. Great drawings and quick facts make this a must have for all Insect Lovers.
November 4, 2018
I might be weird, because I absolutely loved Wicked Bugs. The layout of the book seemed perfect for me. With the bugs broken up into different categories. I also enjoyed the little snippits that were featured with each bug. Such as “The world’s leading expert on the giant hornet, Dr. Masato Ono, describes the sting as feeling like, “a hot nail through my leg.” (p98) Another part of the layout of the book that I liked was how Stewart didn’t drag out everything. The entries are well done and concise. With an added bonus at the end of each chapter where she has written small entries about multiple bugs.
This book was adapted from the adult version. While I never saw the adult version, I think that this is actually rather entertaining and informative for readers of all ages. I really appreciated the “Brief Explanation of Scientific Classification,” that is offered at the front of the book. I found this extremely helpful for understanding these when they came up throughout the reading, but more importantly, I appreciated the fact that while this was a children’s book; they didn’t leave this out. Often times, books for children are written in a fashion that talks down to the kids that are reading. Amy Stewart does a great job of explaining things without sounding like it’s been dumbed down from the adult version of the book, but rather talking to the readers as equals.
One of the really interesting aspects of the book was the Schmidt Sting Pain Index (p132). I had to disagree with the Fire Ant rating at first, but then reconsidered once I took out the fact that I had been bitten by more than just one at a time. The Yellowjacket was aptly described, and I’m not sure what type of wasp it was that got me when I was younger, but “caustic and burning,” seems about right. This book is great for those reluctant readers, because it strikes a perfect cord of being creepy and gross, while tricking them into learning some really fascinating things. I know very few kids that don’t enjoy getting a kick out of grossing someone else out, or learning about something creepy that they can freak their friends out with.
This book opens up a lot of possibilities for discussion and education and can be used in a lot of school settings. But I also know some kids that like gross things that this book will be a big hit with. I think a great way to use this book would be to pull facts from it for a display. You can then pull in other bug books to create one large display based around this book.
Another thing that can be used from this book is the Insect Identification resources in the back. If you post some pictures of the bugs around the library and let the kids do a bug hunt.
This book was adapted from the adult version. While I never saw the adult version, I think that this is actually rather entertaining and informative for readers of all ages. I really appreciated the “Brief Explanation of Scientific Classification,” that is offered at the front of the book. I found this extremely helpful for understanding these when they came up throughout the reading, but more importantly, I appreciated the fact that while this was a children’s book; they didn’t leave this out. Often times, books for children are written in a fashion that talks down to the kids that are reading. Amy Stewart does a great job of explaining things without sounding like it’s been dumbed down from the adult version of the book, but rather talking to the readers as equals.
One of the really interesting aspects of the book was the Schmidt Sting Pain Index (p132). I had to disagree with the Fire Ant rating at first, but then reconsidered once I took out the fact that I had been bitten by more than just one at a time. The Yellowjacket was aptly described, and I’m not sure what type of wasp it was that got me when I was younger, but “caustic and burning,” seems about right. This book is great for those reluctant readers, because it strikes a perfect cord of being creepy and gross, while tricking them into learning some really fascinating things. I know very few kids that don’t enjoy getting a kick out of grossing someone else out, or learning about something creepy that they can freak their friends out with.
This book opens up a lot of possibilities for discussion and education and can be used in a lot of school settings. But I also know some kids that like gross things that this book will be a big hit with. I think a great way to use this book would be to pull facts from it for a display. You can then pull in other bug books to create one large display based around this book.
Another thing that can be used from this book is the Insect Identification resources in the back. If you post some pictures of the bugs around the library and let the kids do a bug hunt.
August 10, 2017
A survey of the bugs that humans are well-advised to respect and well-founded when they fear. Each critter is introduced with its common and scientific names. An illustration is provided, and then it’s explained where you can find these creatures and how they are nasty to humans. (And for those scientists out there, the term bug is clarified by the author as not just insects but in its broader common usage as any arthropod or worm for this book.)
This book is one of those that you read between the fingers spread across your eyes. It is not for the faint of heart or those prone to worry about bug bites or catching weird diseases. It is most definitely for the profoundly curious, those who like their books with a little dangerous thrill or slight gross factor inside, and anyone who thinks they might want to become an entomologist or epidemiologist when they grow up. This has been adapted from the adult version of this book. The language used is very approachable, a glossary is provided for the harder terms, and it is attractively illustrated throughout (as long as you like bugs). Definitely adding this to our library. I can name several friends and family and students I would never hand this to because they’d be tempted to burn it for the pictures of spiders and all the descriptions of horrid things bugs can do to you. But for my fellow nerds, snatch it up and savor the fascination with just the right touch of ewww factor. I know of several middle schoolers who will gobble this up like candy.
Notes on content: There are some descriptions of nasty poisons, diseases, and infestations, but the author kept the descriptions appropriate for the target age level. Deaths from all of these are mentioned, but again, not overly gory in descriptions. Of course, if you ask an arachnophobe or germaphobe, this book is the stuff of nightmares and isn’t fit for human eyes. Know your reader.
I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book is one of those that you read between the fingers spread across your eyes. It is not for the faint of heart or those prone to worry about bug bites or catching weird diseases. It is most definitely for the profoundly curious, those who like their books with a little dangerous thrill or slight gross factor inside, and anyone who thinks they might want to become an entomologist or epidemiologist when they grow up. This has been adapted from the adult version of this book. The language used is very approachable, a glossary is provided for the harder terms, and it is attractively illustrated throughout (as long as you like bugs). Definitely adding this to our library. I can name several friends and family and students I would never hand this to because they’d be tempted to burn it for the pictures of spiders and all the descriptions of horrid things bugs can do to you. But for my fellow nerds, snatch it up and savor the fascination with just the right touch of ewww factor. I know of several middle schoolers who will gobble this up like candy.
Notes on content: There are some descriptions of nasty poisons, diseases, and infestations, but the author kept the descriptions appropriate for the target age level. Deaths from all of these are mentioned, but again, not overly gory in descriptions. Of course, if you ask an arachnophobe or germaphobe, this book is the stuff of nightmares and isn’t fit for human eyes. Know your reader.
I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 18, 2017
Besides wicked, other words that come to mind describing this book are gross, candid, entrancing, vile – I could go on. For those who like a bit of horror in their lives, for those fed up with fluff, for those who want the real scoop on what tiny varmints do, this is the book. Wicked Bugs: The Meanest, Deadliest, Grossest Bugs on Earth by Amy Stewart is a young readers adaptation of her bestselling book for adult readers.
Each entry has pictures, entomology, habitat, size, distribution, and bug relatives, making it a good resource for looking at the science of these beasties. Other information ranges from serious to just for fun: a glossary, a list of phobias by bug title, a range of pain created by entomologist Justin Schmidt who did personal research with more than 150 insect stings. In addition, a cautionary tale winds through the book on the dangers of importing nonnative species.
Some bugs are weird as well as wicked. Monkeys in Venezuela search for millipedes whose secretions they rub into their fur to keep the mosquitoes away. There are zombie bugs that inhabit other bugs and force them to do harm. Others have strange life cycles dependent on striking it right with the life cycles of the animals they inhabit. Some provide solutions to big problems like the phorid fly that injects its eggs into the fire ant with the larvae eating the ant’s brains until its head falls off.
A nod to literature is the quote from Poe’s story of “The Tell-Tale Heart” with “a low, dull, quick sound, such as a watch makes when enveloped in cotton” as he describes the death-watch beetle – a bug the author describes as an omen of death. In a different relationship with death, there are insects used in forensics to pinpoint death’s time and place.
The book is entertaining, intriguing, and informative. It is also as engrossing as a scab that calls you back to pick a little more – just the thing for a reluctant reader.
Each entry has pictures, entomology, habitat, size, distribution, and bug relatives, making it a good resource for looking at the science of these beasties. Other information ranges from serious to just for fun: a glossary, a list of phobias by bug title, a range of pain created by entomologist Justin Schmidt who did personal research with more than 150 insect stings. In addition, a cautionary tale winds through the book on the dangers of importing nonnative species.
Some bugs are weird as well as wicked. Monkeys in Venezuela search for millipedes whose secretions they rub into their fur to keep the mosquitoes away. There are zombie bugs that inhabit other bugs and force them to do harm. Others have strange life cycles dependent on striking it right with the life cycles of the animals they inhabit. Some provide solutions to big problems like the phorid fly that injects its eggs into the fire ant with the larvae eating the ant’s brains until its head falls off.
A nod to literature is the quote from Poe’s story of “The Tell-Tale Heart” with “a low, dull, quick sound, such as a watch makes when enveloped in cotton” as he describes the death-watch beetle – a bug the author describes as an omen of death. In a different relationship with death, there are insects used in forensics to pinpoint death’s time and place.
The book is entertaining, intriguing, and informative. It is also as engrossing as a scab that calls you back to pick a little more – just the thing for a reluctant reader.
September 17, 2021
When I put this on hold at the library, I didn't realize it was the young reader's edition. By the time I realized, I was ready to read it and I liked the illustrations, so I didn't exchange it for adult version. I liked it so much that I think I'll read the adult version when I'm in the mood for something buggy in the future.
Organization: great
Scientific explanations: great for kids without being condescending.
Writing: very good
Stories and details: great and often terrifying.
Illustrations: beautiful in a slightly creepy way
Just to be clear: the terrifying things are the parasites and diseases and live worms that you can only pull slowly out of your body over the course of two weeks. The spiders and scorpions are downright cute by comparison.
Some people might want the science to go a little deeper, but I was content with it.
What a great book.
Plus…it gave me tons of ideas for science fiction stories.
Highly recommended…though maybe not for the squeamish
Organization: great
Scientific explanations: great for kids without being condescending.
Writing: very good
Stories and details: great and often terrifying.
Illustrations: beautiful in a slightly creepy way
Just to be clear: the terrifying things are the parasites and diseases and live worms that you can only pull slowly out of your body over the course of two weeks. The spiders and scorpions are downright cute by comparison.
Some people might want the science to go a little deeper, but I was content with it.
What a great book.
Plus…it gave me tons of ideas for science fiction stories.
Highly recommended…though maybe not for the squeamish
September 28, 2017
The story: Here's the scoop on "the meanest, deadliest, grossest bugs on earth"--from the fleas that caused an outbreak of the Black Plague in the US in the 1900s (the Oriental Rat Flea!) to tapeworms, deathwatch beetles and bed bugs, here's more than you ever wanted to know about bugs that really define the word PEST.
June Cleaver's ratings: Language G; Violence G; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse G; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes PG (just the kind of creepy contexts of tapeworms multiplying in the gut, etc--not for the squeamish); overall rating PG--as much for reading level as for anything else.
Liz's comments: This will appeal to a small subsection of readers--mostly boys, mostly the ones who prefer non-fiction. Those guys, though, are gonna love it. I wish it had photos instead of drawings, but maybe that's cost prohibitive. I guess it's not a bad thing to leave some stuff up to peoples' imaginations...!
June Cleaver's ratings: Language G; Violence G; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse G; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes PG (just the kind of creepy contexts of tapeworms multiplying in the gut, etc--not for the squeamish); overall rating PG--as much for reading level as for anything else.
Liz's comments: This will appeal to a small subsection of readers--mostly boys, mostly the ones who prefer non-fiction. Those guys, though, are gonna love it. I wish it had photos instead of drawings, but maybe that's cost prohibitive. I guess it's not a bad thing to leave some stuff up to peoples' imaginations...!
September 20, 2017
This book could easily have been a favorite of mine, if it didn’t scare me with all the horrifying facts! The bugs described in the book can be so horrible they could give you nightmares. The reason? They can cause death, all by themselves! This book teaches you many things, including the Schmidt Pain Index and the danger of everyday bugs like the cockroach. Read this book carefully, because it could possibly save your life if you encounter these bugs. There are actually zombie bugs, including a bug with the craziest life cycle and a louse that eats a fish’s tongue and sucks on its stub while acting as a tongue for the fish. All of this might make you think this book is excessively complicated, but there are different chapters with different sections, so you can find exactly what you want to know! Are you ready to dive into the world of the scariest creatures on Earth? All you have to do is buy this book, and try not to freak out!
Review by Lucas C,11, Southern Connecticut Mensa
Review by Lucas C,11, Southern Connecticut Mensa
July 15, 2017
Totally digging the all-encompassing book on the meanest, deadliest, and grossest bugs on Earth! It's apparently a young readers edition and it does a fantastic job of succinctly explaining the bug, where it inhabits, what it does, and how we've found out about it and how to react to it.
Well-organized into various sections that discuss ants, beetles, bugs, spiders, etc. I learned some things about Lyme (it's the town in Connecticut were finally what we know as Lyme disease was finally figure out after a woman in the 1950s and her family and then some neighbors years later were diagnosed based on the deer tick's bite). In many of the short chapters that focus on various bugs, it's just enough information to keep you interested as a couch scientist and make non-scientists feel a bit like one without jargon that goes above your head.
Engaging.
Well-organized into various sections that discuss ants, beetles, bugs, spiders, etc. I learned some things about Lyme (it's the town in Connecticut were finally what we know as Lyme disease was finally figure out after a woman in the 1950s and her family and then some neighbors years later were diagnosed based on the deer tick's bite). In many of the short chapters that focus on various bugs, it's just enough information to keep you interested as a couch scientist and make non-scientists feel a bit like one without jargon that goes above your head.
Engaging.
January 15, 2018
I'm glad I found the Young Readers Edition of this book. I'm not sure I would have necessarily been interested in reading the original version. I did think it was interesting to learn about insects and bugs. Although, I have to admit, I always felt itchy whenever I would read it! That's probably why it took several days longer than it should have to finish it. I would read just a little bit every day before the creepy-crawly feeling would feel overwhelming and I'd need to put it down. The good news is that my son was meh about it when I first checked it out (I thought he might be interested in it) but when he saw me reading it, he kept trying to steal it!
This book fulfilled my Book Riot #readharder2018 challenge in the category of "a book about nature."
This book fulfilled my Book Riot #readharder2018 challenge in the category of "a book about nature."
May 20, 2023
Mostly I was just pleased that after a full 12 months of reading endless dinosaur fact books to my 5-year-old, he decided to venture out into entomology and choose a book about disgusting bugs as bedtime story material. Twelve months of dinosaur facts is enough to drive anyone crazy -- there are only so many facts about dinosaurs -- so reading about nasty burrowing maggots and creepy enormous centipedes was actually very interesting (and a surprising relief). This book is really fascinating with fun little icky (but well-done) illustrations. We all learned a lot, were struck by the craziness of the insect world and were thoroughly grossed out multiple times!
August 19, 2017
#nonfiction #upper_elementary
Much as I enjoyed this book and found it fascinating there were a couple of things that made me hesitate in recommending it unequivocally. It's very wordy - or rather the balance between text and illustration is bent towards text. While the illustrations are beautiful, they're sparse, and a few more detailed illustrations to make a point, plus some maps of the distribution would add to the book immensely. while a monochromatic aesthetic is beautiful it may not appeal to the intended audience.
Much as I enjoyed this book and found it fascinating there were a couple of things that made me hesitate in recommending it unequivocally. It's very wordy - or rather the balance between text and illustration is bent towards text. While the illustrations are beautiful, they're sparse, and a few more detailed illustrations to make a point, plus some maps of the distribution would add to the book immensely. while a monochromatic aesthetic is beautiful it may not appeal to the intended audience.
August 25, 2017
Awesome. I was a lucky one and won a copy on Goodreads. Well after I reviewed the 3 books I received from this author, I mailed them to my grandsons ages 5,8,10 and to their Dad the adult copy since he is a school teacher and everyone is fascinated with bugs. I am a little more squeamish than them.
Thank you to the author for sharing these books.
Thank you to the author for sharing these books.
May 19, 2025
Read this out loud to my kid but actually really enjoyed this middle grade, nonfiction book about bugs. I typically read horror for fun and this was absolutely horrifying. I enjoyed how it explored the some of the social impact each bug had on the people within proximity. Really grossed me out but overall an informing and entertaining read.
October 2, 2017
My daughter has been reading this book since the first day we got it. She read it to me and her friends all the time. She loves to tell us were the bugs come from who found them. She has read this book more than any other book she has.
August 2, 2019
I know I’m only 10 but this book scared me like crazy I’m am terrified of the bug that will make you sleep until you die do not read this only if you want to be afraid of theses for the rest of your life!!!
August 27, 2017
Good information, complete with references. Illustrations were nice, however I think most kids would prefer to have photos instead of illustrations.
September 20, 2017
::shudder:: Ugh! Wicked Bugs was fabulous, skin-crawling fun. Easy to booktalk, high interest- I can already see it flying off the shelves at my middle school library!
November 16, 2017
Kids version of Wicked Bugs. More pictures, less reading. Lots of information.
November 16, 2017
My favorite is the zombie bugs!
September 30, 2019
Both fascinating and phobia-inducing.
October 17, 2020
Wonderful yuck.
May 7, 2021
A great, gross read!!
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