Books about Bugs, Insects and Other Creepy Crawlies
Looking for a free, fun activity that you can do at home that will keep children busy for hours? If your kids are like mine, hunting for bugs can'take up an entire afternoon. While I have never been partial to creepy crawlies, I do find them fascinating to learn about, and my daughter’s enthusiasm makes up for my apprehension, somewhat. You might also be surprised at what you can find lurking about. The above picture is a cicada we found in our backyard – bugs and insects can be beautiful!
You can have your own bug scavenger hunt by creating a list of common backyard bugs and then searching for them. Create the list yourself, find a free printable online, or have your child create their own list with words and/or pictures. If you catch the bugs be sure to be careful about handling them, some may bite or cause allergic reactions, and some are easily squished. Teaching children to respect the tiniest forms of life will also translate to how they treat other creatures and people too.
Another idea is to create a bug journal. Have your child draw a picture of the bug or insect and then write a little about the creature and where you found it. You can help them with the writing if they can’t quite do it themselves.
Take pictures or video of the bugs you find to document what you've found. Your kids can learn how to use a camera and it helps with identifying the creatures later if you find something unusual.
And of course, read about bugs and insects!
Non-Fiction:
Bugs by the Numbers by Sharon Werner and Sarah Forss, Ages 6-12
Bugs of Ontario by John Harrison Acorn, Identification guide (adult)
Insect Detective by Steve Voake, Illustrated by Charlotte Voake, Ages 5-8
Ladybugs by Gail Gibbons, Ages 4-8
The Secret Life of Backyard Bugs by Judy Burris and Wayne Richards, Ages 9-12
The Spider by Elise Gravel, Ages 6-9 *Read the Growing A Reader Review here
Fiction:
Bug in a Vacuum by Melanie Watt, Ages 5-9
Butterfly Butterfly: A Book of Colors by Petr Horáček, Ages 3-6
Diary of a Fly by Doreen Cronin, Illustrated by Harry Bliss, Ages 4-8
Dig in! by Cindy Jenson-Elliott, illustrated by Mary Peterson, Ages 2-5
I Love Bugs by Emma Dodd, Ages 3-5
Noisy Bug Sing-Along by John Himmelman, Ages 3-6
One thought on “Books about Bugs, Insects and Other Creepy Crawlies”
Great post!
And if you really want to go “WILD About Bugs” you can sign up and come to our program at Bridlewood Branch on Saturday, August 20, 2016.
http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDMEVT240098&R=EVT240098