INSECTS

beetle

By: Lauren Policky


This annotated bibliography contains a collection of literature that would be beneficial during a science unit on insects.  Each selection is unique in regards to the information it contains.  All of the sources are age appropriate for students in elementary school.  

insect1 BIOGRAPHIES:

Anderson, Margaret J.  Children of Summer: Henri Fabre’s Insects.  New York: Frances
    Foster Books, 1997.

    Jean Henry Fabre was a famous entomologist.  Follow ten-year-old Paul as he discovers many insects through the guidance of his father. Complete with a glossary of insect terms.

    I selected this book because I thought it would be beneficial for students when learning about a famous entomologists.

Ruf, Catherine.  Rachel Carson: The Wonder of Nature.  Maryland: A Division of Henry
    Holt and Co., Inc., 1992.  

    Rachel Carson’s deep love of nature and all living things inspired her to become a writer.  As chemical pesticides were threatening the beautiful environment surrounding her, Rachel Carson decided to take action.  She used her talent in writing to start a national crusade focused on saving the earth.

    I selected this book because I thought Rachel Carson would be a good role model for students.

insect2 CHAPTER BOOKS:

Hutchins, Ross E.  The Bug Clan.  New York: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1973.

    Classifies bugs by orders and families.  Each chapter discusses a different category of insects.  Habitat, life cycles, and anatomy are among the topics covered in each of the eight chapters.

    This book was very informative, and I thought it would teach kids many facts about several types of insects.      

May, Charles P.  A Book of Insects.  New York: St. Martin’s Press, Inc., 1972.

    Within this text, Charles Paul May puts a creative spin on explaining the life history of twenty-eight different insects. 
    Complete with sketches of each insect, this book contains valuable facts pertaining to appearance and existence.   

    I selected this book because I thought that the information it contained would be informative for students.  I also liked the pictures.

insect3  INFORMATIONAL BOOKS:

Allen, Missy and Michel, Peissel.  Dangerous Insects.  New York: Chelsea House
    Publishers, 1992.
    
    Entomologists have identified many types of insects that pose a threat to humans.  This book examines twenty-five dangerous insects.  This text gives detailed description on the appearance of these insects and the type of habitat they can be found in.  It also explains symptoms to look for if a bite is suspected and a rating of how life threatening the bite is.

    I thought that this book was very informative especially for people that plan to travel.  This book provided information that could possible save lives.


Berger, Gilda and Melvin.  How Do Flies Walk Upside Down?  New York: Scholastic,
    1999.

    Contains questions and answers about insects.  This book provides the reader with several interesting facts about the physical characteristics, senses, eating habits, behaviors, and life cycles of different insects.  

    I selected this book because it contained many interesting facts.  This book would be useful to a teacher because they could use these facts as an attention getter for a lesson on insects.

insect4 PICTURE BOOKS:

Bono, Mary.  Ugh a Bug.  New York: Walker & Company, 2002.

    This book incorporates rhyming while interpreting children’s reactions as they encounter bugs.

    Even though they say not to judge a book by its cover, I selected it due to the illustration on the front page.  It was very colorful, and appeared to be an appealing story.

Boo, Marcial.  The Butterfly Kiss.  California: Harcourt & Brace & Company, 1995.
    
    As a butterfly kiss travels through the forest looking for a home, it encounters many different animals.  When each animal rejects the kiss, it travels to a village in search of a home.  Seeing a lighted window, the butterfly kiss travels inside and finds     that the perfect ending to a bedtime story is a kiss.  

    I selected this book because it made me think of my childhood.  I remember giving butterfly kisses to my parents, and I feel that others should learn about this tradition.

Carle, Eric.  The Grouchy Ladybug.  Harper Collins Publishers, 1996.

    The grouchy ladybug encounters many different types of insects and challenges them to fight.  Each insect accepts the challenge, but the grouchy ladybug responds by telling them that they are not big enough.  The grouchy ladybug finally meets her match and respects the other insects.    

    I decided to put this book in my collection because I think that it teaches kids a good lesson.  I also thought that the illustrations were delightful.
 
Carle, Eric.  The Very Busy Spider.  New York: Philomel Books, 1984.

    As a little spider spins her web on a fence post, several animals from a nearby farm try to divert her efforts.  In the end the spiders beautiful web turns out to be very helpful.  However, when her efforts are recognized, the very busy spider cannot be awoken.

    I selected this story because it shared a creative twist on a type of insect.  I also thought that it would be a cute story to share with children.  

Marzollo, Jean.  I’m a Caterpillar.  New York: Scholastic, 1997.

    Explains the life cycle transition a caterpillar makes as it turns into a butterfly.  The story is told from a caterpillars point of  view.

    I chose this book because it is extremely informative and it is easy to read.  I also enjoyed the illustrations and thought that the chart in the back of the book would be a good teaching resource for young children.

Parker, Nancy Wright, and Joan, Richards, Wright.  Bugs.  New York: Greenwillow
    Books, 1987.  
    
    This book of entomology presents sixteen different insects.  There are many colorful diagrams incorporated in this text that show the anatomy of each insect.  Brief descriptions of each bug are also included in this book.

    I selected this book because of the way in which the authors chose to write it.  They created a plot and then added informative pictures and facts that went along with the story line.     

Pinczes, Elinor J.  One Hundred Hungry Ants.  New York: Scholastic, 1993.

    As one hundred hungry ants searched for a picnic, the little ant decides to organize the group in order to get there faster. Theants frantically race here and there, up and down, and to and fro.  All of the ant’s efforts to get their faster only slowed them down.  As a result, there was no food at the picnic and the one hundred hungry ants were now angry.   

    I selected this book because I really enjoyed the story.  I thought that it was a funny story that all children would like.

insect5 TRADITIONAL LITERATURE:

Aardema, Verna.  Anansi does the Impossible.  New York: Atheneum Books for Young
    Readers, 1997.

    This Ashanti tale, retold by Verna Aardema, shares a spider named Anansi   plan to recover folktales from the Sky God.     
    The Sky God’s price is hefty however, Anansi and his wife establish three clever schemes that fulfill the Sky God’s    
    requirements.  

    I chose this book because it used a spider as the main character.  I also thought this was a fun story that teachers could share
    with students while teaching about insects.

Kimmel, Eric A.  Anansi and the Talking Melon.  New York: Holiday House, 1994.

    Eric Kimmel retells an African folklore about Anansi this spider.  As Anansi the spider travels into an Elephant’s melon patch, he decides to help himself to a snack.  Anansi eats and eats until he is too full to climb out of the melon.  He then decides to trick the elephant and all of the towns people into thinking that the melon can talk.

    I selected this book because I thought that the story was creative and funny.  I think that children would enjoy this tale.

insect6 PROFESSIONAL SOURCES:

D’Abano, Flamsteed.  The Grolier Library of Science Biographies.  Connecticut: Grolier
    Educational, 1997.

    Gives brief biographies about many different scientists.  It also shares information on where to locate full texts about each scientist.

    This source is useful when looking for biographies about scientists.  I incorporated this book because I found it beneficial when looking up information for this website.  


Lima, Carolyn W. and John A.  A to Zoo.  Connecticut: Bowker-Greenwood, 2001.

    This source is organized by categories.  It shares many books that related to the chosen topic.

    I selected this resource because it contained information on many different topics.  I would be beneficial for all teachers to use this source when looking for information on thematic units.


insect7 WEBSITE:

Jerrie S. Cheek.  Insects.  Educational Technology Center-KSU.  January 11, 2003.  
    Http://edtech.Kennesaw.edu/web/insects.html

    This website shares many links about a variety of different insects.  It is beneficial for both students and teachers to look at.