Thames & Hudson The Big Book of Bugs

Kids love this book!

What a wonderful book for young nature enthusiasts! I’ve had my eye on this book for a while as my children love bugs and bug hunting in the garden and my youngest seems really interested in the different species she finds.This is a great sized book, meaning the pages are clear and not overcrowded, resulting in a very accessible book for children. The book discusses the different families of insects and the definition of insects, introducing the correct, but age appropriate, jargon such as ‘thorax’. I love my children using correct terms and vocabulary so that’s a huge bonus point from me!Each insect is given a double spread so plenty of information is included without overcrowding or overwhelming the reader. The illustrations are beautiful and the use of drawings rather than photos makes this book stand out over others in the field, the details alone are captivating and make children want to know more about each insect. The use of illustrations has also inspired my children to have a go at painting and drawing their own insects and inspired the idea of keeping a nature journal over the school holidays.There are also little interactive sections encouraging the reader to look for different details on the pages, a great way to keep the attention of younger readers. We have read this book both as a bedtime book and a reference book when we have been hunting for bugs and the children ran off to read up on Praying Mantis when they found one in the garden.Our favourite pages are the ones about moths and night insects and the Ladybird page. I highly recommend this book as a beautiful, yet informative, addition to any child’s collection.Another bonus point for me is how friendly and accessible the author, Yuval Zommer seems. I saw photos on Twitter of him signing books at the Hay Book Festival and he is very responsive on social media. This has made my children see how ‘real’ writing books about things that inspire you is, it makes the whole process of observing, recording and creating more achievable.

I bought this for my grandson's fifth birthday. I deliberated for ages before buying it, because it was quite expensive and we get most of his books from charity shops. Anyway, he loves it and sent me a beautiful 'thank you' card, so I think it was worth the money. He is a very bright 5 yr old, so I think the recommended age range, 5 - 8, was appropriate. I am reading it to him now, but soon he will be able to read it for himself.

‘Just how slow does a snail go? Are bugs afraid of the dark? Why do ants march in a line?’ Find out the answers to all of these questions and many more inside the brilliantly, beautiful ‘The Big Book of Bugs’. A jam packed book containing an insight into the lives of all kinds of insects and creepy crawlies, it is the ultimate guide for young bug spotters eager to find out more about the tiny creatures all around us. Featuring the most exquisite and delicate illustrations this book is a joy to behold. A real treasure of a read which will enchant and delight children and parents alike. We have spent hours poring over this glorious book exploring familiar and unknown mini beasts and searching the pages for the hidden fly so cleverly concealed to capture children’s attentions. I simply adore this book!

Brought this as a reference book for my 2 son's, although they are slightly to young currently I brought it knowing it's something they can look at in the future.The book itself is well presented and the images/details inside are amazing (I found myself reading it before wrapping it up as a Xmas present).Highly recommend for anyone who has an interest in bugs and wants to find out more!

Love this book! Bought for a 3 year old birthday and some plastic magnifiers. Very interesting and interactive. If I hadn’t been so quick to write message at front I would’ve kept for my son. Brilliant gift idea. Will grow with child. Good for parents to read as it’s very interesting unlike baby books. Illustrations are lovely.