Book Review of Insectopedia

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Florian, Douglas. 1998. INSECTOPEDIA. Ill. by Douglas Florian. New York, NY: Voyager Books, a trademark of Harcourt Books, Inc. ISBN 0152163352

 PLOT SUMMARY

Caterpillar eats leaves and turns into a butterfly. Dragonfly terrorizes the bug population. Daddy Longlegs, “how’d you get those legs to grow?” You’re lucky if the army ants “miss your place.” Inchworm never picks up speeding tickets. Praying Mantis swallows other bugs “religiously.” The black widow doesn’t wear denim. Io moth has fake eyes. Whirligig beetles whirl. Weevils are evil. The walkingstick looks like a twig or stick. The hornet kills insects. Treehoppers hop. Mosquitoes feast on you. Monarch butterflies are the royalty of the bug world. The giant water bug father carries the mother’s eggs. Termites live in a mound. Crickets can be listened to for free. Locusts eat grain and grass. Ticks are parasitic. A mayfly lives only a day or two.    

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Douglas Florian’s poetry skillfully uses rhyme and rhythm to introduce the denizens of the insect world. The text placement often adds to the connection between poem and subject. The dragonfly poem text gives the impression of a dragonfly swooping down on its prey. The army ants text reinforces the impression of marching. The inchworm poem text is in the shape of an inchworm. Likewise, the shape of the text in the whirligig poem gives the impression of whirling. The text of the termite poem is in the shape of a termite mound. The illustrations are reminiscent of paintings on ancient Greek or Roman pottery, murals, and frescoes. The difference is the whimsical additions that Florian gives to them, such as a hat on the caterpillar, road signs for the inchworm, and spider clothes in a web.

AWARDS AND REVIEW EXCERPTS

ALA Notable Children’s Book

CHILD Magazine Best Book of the Year

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY Best Book of the Year

PARENTING MAGAZINE Reading Magic Award Winner

NCTE Notable Children’s Trade Book in the Language Arts

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL (starred review): “There are other books of poetry about insects… but none match Insectopedia.”

BOOKLIST (starred review): “The clever artwork… and arachnid verse it illustrates will delight readers.”

LOS ANGELES TIMES: “Florian’s elegant poems and watercolor collages are a treat.”

CONNECTIONS

* Whether kids love, like, or hate insects, bugs offer opportunities for writing or drawing.

* Other books like this one:

Polisar, Barry. INSECT SOUP: BUG POEMS. ISBN 9780938663225

Fliess, Sue. THE BUG BOOK. ISBN 9780448489353

Yolen, Jane. BUG OFF! CREEPY, CRAWLY POEMS. ISBN 9781590788622

Fisher, Eileen. WHEN IT COMES TO BUGS. ISBN 9780006179580

Lewis, J. Patrick. THE LITTLE BUGGERS. ISBN 9780803717701 

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