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!
Title: Bugs Fandex
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
Title: The Bug Book and Bug Bottle
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!
