595.7

This falls into two categories: either the "I spy" type, or the read-to-learn type. This is ideal for reading aloud to kids who are eager to engage with the illustrations. It's also a great way to feed cool information to kids in a fun way (e.g., read the text that provides interesting, true facts about insects, then have the kids spot the insects on the accompanying pages. This seems to have been the design the author had in mind.) ( )

“Where’s That Insect?” is one of a series of informational books from the “Hide & Seek Science” series. This book gives a description and information about a variety of insects. The insect’s physical appearance is described pointing out a unique physical characteristic. The author then gives additional information about the insect in a section titled “It’s a Fact:” where she may describe how the dragonfly is the best flyer in the insect world or that a caterpillar turns into a butterfly or a moth, which is called metamorphosis. On the adjoining page is a picture of the insect in its natural habitat. The reader is challenged to find the insect in the picture based on the information provided in the description.

This book is fun to read with children. The authors are Barbara Brenner and Bernice Chardiet, both well published authors of children’s books. Barbara Brenner, is also known as an award winning author who specializes in works for juveniles that deal with animals, nature, and ecology. Carol Schwartz illustrated the book with a realism style of artwork using beautiful vivid colors to display the natural environment of the insects. Each insect is drawn into its environment in such a way, that when the reader is challenged to locate the insect, it engages the reader in an activity to help retain the information read. This activity reminds me of the “Find Waldo” books. The concept book is part of a series of science books designed to not only provide information but to be fun to read.

In the classroom the teacher can use this book to support a science lesson on insects. The students could be given an assignment to collect five insects from their back yards and to describe the insect’s environment where they were located. The teacher would need to provide specific instructions on collecting insects with a parent’s assistance and how to preserve the bug for their presentation. The teacher could also use the book as an introduction on a lesson about our environment. Students could learn how humans can cause changes in the environment that can help or hurt the other creatures.