The Bug Book and Bug Bottle

By Hugh Danks

Book Overview

Kids are crazy about bugs And kids and parents are crazy about the Bug Book & Bug Bottle . Packed with activities and packaged in its own collecting bottle, the original Bug Book is now revised, updated, and expanded: Announcing the almost-all-new, more-bugs-than-ever edition. The ingeniously designed, safe plastic bottle is perfect for catching and viewing creepy crawlies, then letting them go unharmed. (This is a bug kit with a conscience ) The full-color book provides field notes to 46 bugs (up from the original 24) arranged by habitat, including pond, forest, ground, leaves, field, flower. Written by entomologist Hugh Danks, the Bug Book gives comprehensive information about these fascinating creatures--how they live, what they eat, unusual characteristics, and more. It offers simple, clear guidelines on how to collect and care for bugs, and equally helpful hints on which bugs not to catch. New to the kit are a fold-out bug chart for quick identification, a magnifier to see the critters up close, and a bug explorer's journal to record discoveries. Discover how the whirligig beetle got its name, why fireflies light up, and how water striders walk on water. And then impress parents and friends--here are all the tools kids need to become bona fide bug experts.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0761148892
• ISBN13: 9780761148890
• Release Date: May 2009
• Publisher: Workman Publishing
• Length: 112 Pages
• Weight: 0.22 lbs.
• Dimensions: 5.2" x 2.7" x 5.4"
• Age Range: 6 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 1 to 7

Customer Reviews

Fun project for young entymologists

"The Bug Book" by Hugh Danks (Workman Publishing, 2009) --------------------------------------- Originally published in 1987, this is a great, simple gift for any young person interested in bugs and entymology. The small booklet (about 5"x 5") comes inside a slender container made of clear, hard plastic that is perfect for holding captured bugs. It even comes with airholes to encourage humane treatment of any captives. The book itself is very well-written and concise. It includes simple classification standards, profiles of a few dozen common bugs, suggestions for projects for specific species (using the plastic case to hatch a butterfly in, etc.) and a number of strategies for effectively gathering research subjects, such as baiting traps with food, digging small pits, sifting fallen leaves, building "night sheets," etc. There is also a small "bug journal" for children to log the insects they capture, describe their appearance and even to sketch their pictures. (The notebook is the only real shortfall of this science toy, since it only has room for a dozen entries -- perhaps a couple of extra copies would be nice, although I suppose once you get the hang of it, anyone who is into this kind of documenting activity could easily replicate the format in a blank notebook...) As an educational tool, this is certainly a superior product. It is small and simple to use. The written text is quite informative, but easy to understand, and not overly technical; just the right balance to encourage and inform, but not overwhelm or bore young minds. This is probably best for children between 8 and 12, but is easy enough for smaller children to use as well. Recommended and fun (even though I always feel sorry for the poor bugs... remember to be nice to them!) (Joe Sixpack, ReadThatAgain children's book reviews)