Thursday, May 14, 2009

It's a Buggy Review and Giveaway!

I got the 2 coolest items in for review, and knew that they would be perfect for Children's Book Week, even though they aren't "technically" books.  Kids love bugs, and these 2 items are perfect for your bug lover!

  

By: Sarah Goodman and Louis Sorkin
Review Copy Provided by:  Workman Publishing

About the Book:  Meet South America's Hercules Beetle, as big as a dollar bill and the strongest creature on earth, able to lift 850 times its body weight. (That's like a 100-pound person lifting four school buses!) The Black Widow Spider, whose females, contrary to reputation, rarely eat their mates. And the wonderfully bizarre Walking Stick, sometimes called "Frankenstick" for its ability to reattach its own severed head. Plus Treehoppers and Leafhoppers, centipedes and millipedes, stealthy Assassin Bugs, and twelve thousand varieties of ant.

My Review:  What a wealth of information packed into 50 pages, held together with a brad so that it fans out for convenience!  Each page gives a large, vivid, realistic picture of the bug, along with the name (common and scientific), where it's found, and facts about the bug.  The facts are not just listed, but written in paragraph form in a way that will hold the readers' interest.  I also like the Field Notes on the back of each page.  These field notes are for the true bug lover, who goes out in search of bugs to study or collect.  The Field Notes tell the bug's life cycle, how to identify them, and their size.   The pages are glossy cardstock, so they will hold up to multiple viewings, even out in the "bug field."
The Fandex is geared for ages 9-12, even though younger children will enjoy the pictures and bug names.  This could be used for school research, or just for fun.  Children are sure to enjoy using the Bug Fandex as they learn about bugs.

Bugs Fandex at Amazon
Bugs Fandex at Powell's 

 

By:  Hugh Danks
Review Copy Provided by:  Workman Publishing

About It:  Packed with activities and packaged in its own collecting bottle, the original Bug Book is now revised, updated, and expanded.  A safe plastic bottle perfect for catching and viewing creepy crawlies, then letting them go unharmed. Comes with a full-color book including 46 bugs (up from the original 24).  New to the kit are a fold-out bug chart for quick identification, a magnifier to see the critters up close, and a bug explorer's journal to record discoveries.

My Review:  This is for the young bug lover in your life.  This is more of a kit than a book, even though there are 2 books included.  The plastic bug bottle is ideal collecting and studying bugs.  Inside the bottle is a magnifying glass for enhanced viewing, a bug journal, and The Bug Book and a bug chart.  The Bug Book has an amazing 47 bugs inside.  Each bug's page has an illustration, although I wish they were actual photos, instead of drawings, but at least there's a picture for kids to see.  Also on each page is the bug's name, appearance, food, and notes.  The book also tells children how to catch, identify and care for the bugs.  It's not just full of facts, but it's an activity guide.  I like how the information in the book is simple enough for the young child, but informative enough for an older child that might be helping.  The Bug Journal doesn't leave the child on his/her own.  It is formatted for name, type of bug, where it's found, notes, and a space to draw a picture.  What child wouldn't love that?  Hugh Danks has done a great job of putting together a young bug lovers' tool kit!


 Now, what if I told you that when Laura from Workman sent this to me,she sent a note saying she had two more of each as prizes for my giveaway?  Would you want a set?  Well, you're in luck!  I have 2 sets to giveaway.  2 readers will get the Bug Fandex and The Bug Book and Bug Bottle for their very own!  How can you win these?  Just tell me who the bug lover in your life is that would love these cool items!  Follow me for an extra entry, share this giveaway anywhere, let me know about it and earn 3 more entries.  That's a total of 5 entries.  Open to US/Canada addresses.  This will run from today until a week from today, Thursday, May 21.  On Friday, May 22, I will randomly draw 2 names from the comments, email and post the winners.  Good luck!



16 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think those fandexes are great and so convenient to carry on a walk. I have a tree one, but I could use a bug one for the Bug Lover in My Life who is My Husband! I come running in from outside screaming that there is a tarantula outside and his response is, Oh, how cute! Let's go see it! And he has a grandson to whom he would like to pass along this perverse appreciation of nature! So these items sound perfect!

nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

Anonymous said...

I tweeted about your contest here:

http://twitter.com/rhapsodybooks/status/1801887403

nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

Anonymous said...

I have a niece who is so active outdoors that she got Lyme's disease (mild and treated) last year. She lives in CT and is seven. perfect age. She's also an avid reader and smart girl.

JJ said...

I think my daughter will enjoy this book. She enjoys going outside to play. She is interested in flowers, bugs and more. lol

gahome2mom at gmail dot com

JJ said...

Blogged it:
http://gahome2mom.blogspot.com/2009/05/win-battlefield-of-mind-dvd.html

gahome2mom at gmail dot com

Z-Kids said...

My son Isaac is the bug-lover, and all our kids would love these items!
Z-Dad

KR said...

I would love these for my kindergarten kids. They are fascinated by bugs and bring them in daily..usually alive!!!

mj.coward[at]gmail.com

Unknown said...

My son would love these! I think they are studying bugs in science right now because a few days ago he was telling me the different parts of a bugs body.

jgbeads AT gmail DOT com

Unknown said...

I am a follower :)

jgbeads AT gmail DOT com

Carrie K. said...

I have three boys who would very much love either of these bug-related items!

nnjmom at yahoo dot com

Oh, and I follow you on Google Reader.

Lisa said...

I'd love to win a set for my son. We're studying bugs this week as our preschool theme.
iluvchrisnlevi@aol.com

Jeane said...

My four year old daughter is crazy about bugs. She's always finding one I've never seen before and asking me what it is. She would love to have the bug fandex! please enter me for her sake.

Pamela S said...

What a great gift set for a little boy! I know my son loves walking along our creek and hunting for bugs. Thanks.
pamelashockley(AT)netscape(DOT)net

Belle said...

I'd love to be entered in this giveaway - my son would just adore these.

Nicole said...

This looks like fun! My daughter is always playing with the bugs outside and inspecting them. It would be fun to learn how more about those bugs and maybe identify a few of the weird ones.

Nicole said...

I follow now.

 
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