This book is part of a series of guides designed for adolescents interested in natural history and nature. The books are an excellent introduction to the Rocks and Minerals, Birds, Wildflowers, and Insects for children aged 8-18. Each guide is appropriately sized to fit in a field vest pocket. Readers who remember previous versions of these field guides from the 1970s that were dull and overly detailed will be pleasantly surprised. These books are arguably the most beautifully photographed and laid out field guides yet published for young people. Each book has an introductory section filled with interesting facts, descriptions of early naturalists, definitions of many of the terms used in the book, and a guide to using the field guide portion of the book. (...)Each field guide features 50 common species with photos and brief descriptions of many more regionally occurring insects. Brief discussions of threatened and endangered species are particularly valuable. Great first guides for children and adults with limited natural history background.

The Insect guide has excellent photographs and descriptions of common species. The photographs are very detailed and show the beauty of insects, rather than their gruesome aspects. Good descriptions and warnings regarding poisonous species. --Merri Martz


From School Library Journal
Grade 4 Up-Two welcome additions to nature study that are not strictly field guides per se. Beginning with descriptions of ornithology and entomology, the authors invite young people to become aware of and familiar with the natural world. With sharp, clear full-color photos (some spectacular, some disappointingly small), birds and insects are described, classified, and placed in their habitats. Birds covers identification marks; eating, mating, and nesting habits; migration; and endangered status. Insects provides similar information plus cautions against those insects that bite or sting. The photos greatly magnify the size of each species. Both volumes do include useful sections of photos for quick identification while on hikes, etc. A glossary of technical terms, lists for further reading, organizations, videos, software, and Web sites are appended. These inviting and easy-to-use titles will deservedly be popular.Kathleen McCabe, East Meadow Public Library, NYCopyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.


Card catalog description
A visual guide to the natural science of insects which includes information on the ten most common orders, pollination, and life-cycles; also works as a field guide.

ANNOTATION

A visual guide to the natural science of insects which includes information on the ten most common orders, pollination, and life-cycles; also works as a field guide.

FROM THE CRITICS

Children's Literature - Joyce Rice

Although bookstores are filled with field guides intended primarily for adults, this guide will have an appeal to the younger researcher. Published by Scholastic, a publisher known for its student approach, this guide offers larger pictures of each insect. The photograph-quality of the illustrations makes the reader want to touch the page to make sure the bug is not real. Each of 50 entries includes a description of the insect, including its habitat, and a cross-reference to similar species. Introductory pages offer information on families of insects, endangered insects, and careers related to the study of insects. Additional resources and a helpful index are included. The publisher has tucked a laminated reference guide into the back cover. This is indeed a good "first" field guide.

School Library Journal