This is a great book! It has sections on the most commonly found insect orders and for most orders provides a few hints on identifying the insects you see. Each order is allotted two pages in the book; information typically includes some basic biology and the benefits to people.
I do have a few minor complaints. There are several references to “insects and animals” as though insects weren't animals. And despite a legitimate need to caution about handling some insects, I think the author is overly cautious about bees and wasps and not cautious enough about handling true bugs (Heteroptera).
The biggest drawback to the book is the inclusion of non-North American insects in a book designed to get kids outside watching insects. For more information on how this common trend of books, tv, and film to ignore North American wildlife “may promote negative attitudes toward North American fauna”, see Ryan Patrick Fitzgibbons. 2007. The Preference for the exotic in wildlife broadcast film. M.A. thesis, Science and Natural History Filmmaking, Montana State University, Bozeman.
Overall, though, I really like this - quite a few nice photographs, a glossary rather than a tendency to avoid scientific terms and suggested insect watching tips. Rompella's title and text emphasize the importance of not harming insects in order to reap their many benefits.
Citation: Natalie Rompella. 2007. Don't Squash That Bug! The curious kid's guide to insects. Lobster Press: Montreal, Quebec.
Find this book:
Daniel Boone Regional Library, Columbia: E 595.7 ROM
Springfield – Greene County Library District: 595.7 R
Missouri River Regional Library (Jefferson City): J 595.7 Rom
Adair County Public Library (Kirksville): A JUV 595.7 Rom
Cape Girardeau Public Library: 595.7 ROM
Photo of the Week: A Hunchback Bee Fly (Lepidophora lepidocera) feeds on Black-eyed Susan nectar. Immatures hatch inside of wasp nests and eat the food provided for the wasp larvae.
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