EXPLORING INSECTS

A wide-angled introduction to the realms of the creepy-crawlies.

Aiming at graduates of her board-book Hello World series, McDonald first breaks down typical insect body parts, from thorax to spiracles, and then goes on to profile four common insects—plus earthworms as a sort of honorary member of the six-legged clan. In no particular order she then offers a jumble of topical spreads (rainforests, jumping insects, insect camouflage, defense mechanisms) and a close look at Meganeuropsis (a colossal extinct dragonfly) on the way to a closing promotion of entomological encounters as a hobby or even career. Her naturalistically detailed illustrations, which look like flat perspective paper collages, include cutaway views of worm tunnels and ant colonies and are done in bright colors that show flowers and butterflies to particularly flattering effect. Aside from an artificial beehive on one page, shoes and hands, one light-skinned, one brown-skinned, are the only signs of human presence. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A random assortment of facts and subjects, but the bright art and the specific terminology are pluses.