Reading children’s books about insects can provide hours of fun for little ones who are itching to explore the world around them. Children’s books about insects help to capture a child’s curiosity and imagination with vivid illustrations and fun facts about some of nature’s smallest creatures. From the mesmerizing metamorphosis of butterflies and moths to the bubbly buzzing of bees, there is never a dull moment in the world of insects.
Children’s books about insects help kids learn to appreciate the diversity and beauty of the natural world and to understand the vital role that these small creatures play in the earth’s ecosystems. Whether your child is a bug enthusiast or is a bit hesitant when it comes to insects, these books will expand their minds and help them to grow to love and better understand the intricacies of the natural world.
We’ve collected the best children’s books about insects so that you can spend less time researching and more time with your little one!
Check Amazon- This book uses playful and conversational text to teach about bugs.
- The illustrations are colorful and engaging.
- It includes many fun and fascinating facts about bugs.
- It teaches children the difference between insects and bugs.
Check Amazon- 40 pages.
- Recommended for children ages 5 through 9.
- A mystery with clues in pictures.
- Vibrant and detailed graphics.
Check Amazon- 32 pages.
- Customers recommend this book for children ages 2 through 4.
- A quality read about friendship.
- Bright and colorful images.
Check Amazon- A classic of children's literature
- Introduces aspects of the animal kingdom, the food chain, and the circle of life to children
- A great book to read to your kids, especially if they can't yet read themselves
Check Amazon- This is an alphabet book as well as an informational book about bugs.
- The illustrations are colorful and captivating.
- The text is a playful blend of scientific facts and humor.
- It includes fun facts about 26 types of bugs, insects, and arachnids.
Check Amazon- This is a cute rhyming picture book.
- It is a sturdy board book and is great for toddlers and young children.
- The illustrations are colorful and whimsical.
- There is an identification guide at the end of the book with all the bug names.
Top Picks: The Best Children’s Books About Insects
1. Big Book of Bugs by Yuval Zommer
The colorful illustrations in Big Book of Bugs will keep your child engaged with this book for hours on end. With this wonderful children’s book, your child will learn the differences between insects and bugs, how to find them — and why they might sting or bite you! This book is captivating and opens up a whole new perspective for kids. It shows them how bugs live and work alongside us and how to create a better environment for them. The book also helps your youngster learn how to spot bugs in their own backyard!
This book spotlights several different bugs and insects with several interesting facts. For example, did you know that bees perform a “waggle dance” to tell their friends where to find fresh flowers? Or that a queen ant can live up to 15 years? Your child will learn about mysterious bugs that only venture out at night, cute baby bugs, and bugs that like to play hide and seek.
With fascinating bug facts, a humorous and playful style, and stunning illustrations, readers of all ages will love exploring each page of this lively book. However, a few customers felt that the illustrations were too busy. In any case, after reading Big Book of Bugs, you’ll never look at bugs the same way again!
Pros and Cons of Big Book of Bugs by Yuval Zommer
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The illustrations are colorful and detailed. | A few customers felt that the illustrations were too busy. |
| This book teaches children about the difference between insects and bugs. | |
| It also helps children learn why bugs are important to ecosystems, how we live alongside each other, and how to spot bugs in your backyard. | |
| This book is full of fun and fascinating facts about bugs. | |
| The text is written in a humorous and playful style. | |
| It provides a new perspective and understanding of bugs. |
- This book uses playful and conversational text to teach about bugs.
- The illustrations are colorful and engaging.
- It includes many fun and fascinating facts about bugs.
- It teaches children the difference between insects and bugs.
2. Ace Lacewing: Bug Detective by David Biedrzycki
This thrilling story is a great transition for all the kids who are outgrowing their picture books phase. They can read through this humorous but captivating mystery handled by Ace Lacewing, the story’s lead. It begins when Queenie Bee goes missing, but Ace Lacewing is on the case! To catch the culprit, you will have to read well and find clues along the way.
This book carries fascinating and vibrant graphics, and there are even clues hidden in the pictures. It is a short read, too, with only 40 pages carrying small text. The story is very engaging and keeps you on the edge of your seat as you try to solve the mystery. However, it is also quite humorous, and even adult customers reported that they couldn’t stop laughing throughout the story. You can purchase it as a hardcover and as a paperback.
David Biedrzycki, a renowned author of children’s books, wrote this book. He has written nearly 30 books to date. On top of that, he is a frequent visitor to schools where you can find him inspiring children to write and draw.
Pros and Cons of Ace Lacewing: Bug Detective by David Biedrzycki
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This book contains both small text as well as lively graphics. | |
| All of the characters in the story are bugs and insects. | |
| Clues are included in the text as well as in the graphics. | |
| This book is only 40 pages long. | |
| The story is a captivating mystery with lots of humor. | |
| It comes in both hardcover and paperback. | |
| The author is a renowned writer of children’s books, and often visits schools to meet with children. |
- 40 pages.
- Recommended for children ages 5 through 9.
- A mystery with clues in pictures.
- Vibrant and detailed graphics.
3. Bob and Otto by Robert O. Bruel (Author) and Nick Bruel (Illustrator)
Bob and Otto is one of the sweetest books out there and showcases a heartwarming read about two friends. However, this is not your typical friendship story.
Bob is a caterpillar, while Otto is an earthworm. The two spend quality time with one another every day until one day Bob just suddenly feels he needs to climb up a tree, and Otto feels he must dig into the earth. After some time, the two meet again. But Bob is now changed into a butterfly! Although the two are now very different and serve different roles in their world, they continue to stay friends.
This is a great story that illustrates the different roles of insects with a combination of fiction and nonfiction. It also helps kids learn that people sometimes drift apart, but the real ones find a way back to each other again. You will find a lot of very detailed, engaging, and bright images that put up a strong front for the book. The drawings are animated and colorful, making even the toddlers happy with the storyline.
This story is aimed at children two to four years old and is 32 pages long. You can get the book in both paperback and hardcover.
Pros and Cons of Bob and Otto by Robert O. Bruel (Author) and Nick Bruel (Illustrator)
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This is a heartwarming story about friendship. | |
| It combines both fiction and nonfiction. | |
| The story illustrates the different roles of insects and bugs. | |
| It also helps children see the transformation of friendships. | |
| The illustrations are colorful and animated. | |
| It is aimed at children two to four years old. | |
| The book is 32 pages long. | |
| It is available in both paperback and hardback. |
- 32 pages.
- Customers recommend this book for children ages 2 through 4.
- A quality read about friendship.
- Bright and colorful images.
4. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
One of the most well-known children’s books about insects is the classic story of The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. Carle is a fabulous children’s book writer and illustrator and has written over 70 different picture books for children. You can even find a museum in his memory known as The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art.
This book tells the story of a little caterpillar who eats its way through many different types of foods before finally transforming into a beautiful butterfly. Kids will love counting along with the caterpillar as it munches through different types of food, from apples and pears to chocolate cake and salami. The text is simple and fun but also teaches children about the importance of taking care of themselves. It is a great message about growth and transformation as well.
The best thing about this book, however, is the illustrations. The colorful and vibrant illustrations are unique and eye-catching, with bright greens, yellows, and reds that pop off the page in Carle’s classic collage-type style.
Pros and Cons of The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This is a well-known and celebrated classic children’s book. | |
| The story illustrates a caterpillar’s journey to becoming a butterfly. | |
| Kids can count along with the caterpillar as it munches through different types of food. | |
| The text is simple and fun. | |
| It teaches children about the importance of taking care of themselves. | |
| The story also is a great message about growth and transformation. | |
| The colorful and vibrant illustrations are unique and eye-catching. | |
| The illustrations are made with Eric Carle’s signature collage-type style. |
- A classic of children's literature
- Introduces aspects of the animal kingdom, the food chain, and the circle of life to children
- A great book to read to your kids, especially if they can't yet read themselves
5. The Icky Bug Alphabet Book by Jerry Pallotta (Author) and Ralph Masiello (Illustrator)
This fun alphabet book explores many weird and wonderful insects as children read from A to Z. This is a great introduction for bug lovers, with stunning and detailed illustrations that will captivate and entertain your children. The text is a playful blend of scientific facts and fun humor, which is engaging and helps pique children’s curiosity. As they read along, children will learn about how fireflies light up, why farmers love some insects, and how some spiders can even breathe underwater!
A few customers did not like the title of this book, and expressed concern that it is promoting the idea that bugs are gross and “icky”. However, it is important to note that while it includes “Icky Bug” in the title, this book is anything but icky! The Icky Bug Alphabet Book introduces children to the intricacies and beauty of 26 different insects, bugs, and arachnids. In addition, The Icky Bug Alphabet Book is part of a larger series, so if you want to collect more fun bug books, you can also check out The Icky Bug Counting Book, The Icky Bug Shapes Book, and The Icky Bug Color Book.
Pros and Cons of The Icky Bug Alphabet Book by Jerry Pallotta (Author) and Ralph Masiello (Illustrator)
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This book teaches children about 26 different types of bugs, insects, and arachnids. | Some customers felt the title was misleading and encourages children to see bugs as icky and gross. |
| It is also an alphabet book. | |
| The book is filled with stunning and detailed illustrations. | |
| The text is a playful blend of scientific facts and humor. | |
| This book is also part of a larger series that includes The Icky Bug Counting Book, The Icky Bug Shapes Book, and The Icky Bug Color Book. |
- This is an alphabet book as well as an informational book about bugs.
- The illustrations are colorful and captivating.
- The text is a playful blend of scientific facts and humor.
- It includes fun facts about 26 types of bugs, insects, and arachnids.
6. Some Bugs by Angela DiTerlizzi (Author) and Brendan Wenzel (Illustrator)
This book is an adorable addition to any child’s library! Some Bugs is a rhyming picture book that is so much fun to read. The simple text of the story describes what different insects do (such as glide, flutter, buzz, etc.), and encourages children to take a closer look at the bugs in their own backyards.
Instead of bogging kids down with complicated names and terminology, this book focuses on the cool things that bugs can due, sparking your child’s curiosity and helping them connect to the natural world. There is also a handy identification guide at the end of the book with all the bug names. This is a board book, which is great for toddlers and young children.
The illustrations in this book are colorful and whimsical, keeping toddlers and young children engaged and excited as they move through the story. However, while most customers loved the book’s illustrations, a few customers felt that they were busy and a bit confusing.
Pros and Cons of Some Bugs by Angela DiTerlizzi (Author) and Brendan Wenzel (Illustrator)
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This is a cute rhyming picture book. | A few customers felt that the illustrations were busy and a bit confusing. |
| It is a sturdy board book and is great for toddlers and young children. | |
| The text is simple and easy to follow. | |
| The book shows what each bug does, focusing on relatable actions rather than complicated terms and names. | |
| It encourages children to connect to the natural world and explore their own backyard. | |
| There is an identification guide at the end of the book with all the bug names. | |
| The illustrations are colorful and whimsical. |
- This is a cute rhyming picture book.
- It is a sturdy board book and is great for toddlers and young children.
- The illustrations are colorful and whimsical.
- There is an identification guide at the end of the book with all the bug names.
How to Choose the Best Children’s Books About Insects
So, you want to get your children a book about insects, but you’re not quite sure where to start. Don’t worry! Here are some of the main features you should keep in mind:
- Age range
- Pictures
- Fiction vs. Non-fiction
Age Range
It’s important to consider the age range of any book that you are considering for your child. You want to ensure that the book’s content is appropriate and engaging for your child. Children’s books are specifically designed for different age groups and reading levels. A book that is too advanced or too simple can cause frustration for young readers.
Pictures
When it comes to choosing the best book about insects for children, pictures are key. Pictures and illustrations play a vital role in making the information engaging as well as informative. In a children’s book about insects, colorful and detailed images can help young readers to learn about the different types of insects, their habitats, behaviors, and unique characteristics. In addition, engaging pictures can help to break up the text and make the book more visually appealing, helping to keep young children engaged in the reading.
Fiction vs. Non-Fiction
Non-fiction children’s books about insects can provide accurate information about insects, their behavior, and their habitats. These books encourage readers to learn about the natural world. They can also help develop a child’s cognitive and literacy skills. Fictional books, on the other hand, provide a creative and imaginative experience for children. These books can be engaging and a lot of fun for kids, but they may not always provide accurate scientific facts. Non-fiction books are often better for older readers, while fiction books appeal to younger children. However, the best children’s books about insects often blend both fiction and non-fiction elements together.
The 6 Best Children’s Books About Insects FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Are these books appropriate for use in the classroom?
Yes, many of the books we recommend are great for classroom use and can be used to supplement science and nature lessons.
How do you teach children about insects?
Children’s books are a great way to introduce children to the world of insects. Many of the books on this list are fun as well as educational and make great starting points for exploring the natural world. You can read these books with your child and then take them outside where they can observe different kinds of insects in their natural habitats.
Why should you teach children about insects?
Learning about insects is not only fun for many children, but an important subject for them to learn and understand. Insects play a vital role in our ecosystems. Learning about insects can help children to gain an understanding of the interdependence of living things and the importance of biodiversity. Insects can also inspire curiosity, wonder, and appreciation for all forms of life. In addition, learning about insects can help children develop scientific literacy and critical thinking skills.
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