Insects Books

Coyote and the laughing Butterflies is a magical book about a coyote adn his duty to bring salt to his wife from a huge salt lake. It hooked my attention right away and I didn't want to put it down until I was done. The illustrations in this book are grogeous and since I'm an animal lover teh cover and title attracted me right away.
In the book because of teh vivid word choice i could imagine everything the author was telling me in my mind. It was wonderfully written and was very descriptive during parts of the story. i loved the way the author described the beautiful butterflies and teh huge salt lake. Even at times were i couldn't picture sections of teh book in my head the illustrations definately helped me. i highly recommend this book to young kids who liek animals and adventures. Don't pass this wonderful book up!

Coyote and the Laughing Butterflies is a very amusing bit ofNative American folklore that can be enjoyed by all ages. It is abeautifully illustrated work in vivid color, written in explanation of why butterflies always fly in an erratic, fluttering way. It is funny, interesting, and compassionate. It is delightful light reading to be lovingly shared with your children to introduce them to Native American folk stories.

As a children's librarian, I am always tooking for folk tales from around the world to read or tell to children in the 4-8 year old group. This tale is fun to tell, but reading it and showing the colorful illustrations of the Southwestern United States is a good way to show children in Maine a different region of our country. The listeners loved having the coyote outwitted by butterflies, and many were able to re-tell the tale to parents. I used a coyote puppet to tell the tale, and the children did a butterfly color page after story time. I would highly recommend it to children's librarians and to parents.

As a teacher we are expected to not only teach reading, writing, math, history plus many other subject areas, we are expected to find out why a student doesn't care about learning. Many times the reason is that they have been told so many times that they are "dumb", "stupid" and "special ed" so we as a teacher must find ways of letting them know that they have self worth.

One way of starting this process is reading the book, Crinkles the Cricket by Kay Helgerson, Illustrated by Chris Volion.

I am a special ed teacher in Walton County, Georgia teaching on the middle school level. By the time my students get to me their feeling of self worth is almost gone. Peers, friends, and parents have made them feel that they have nothing to give to this world so my job is to make them realize that they have self worth and try and build that up in them.

I had been teaching at Carver Middle School in Walton County for only about four weeks before going out on an extended sick leave. (back surgery). I am planning to be back in the classroom on January 8 and after I take roll my next quest is to read them this little book called Crinkles the Cricket. Yes, they will probably think it childish and I willlet them laugh because during the laughter they might realize that this book is pointing straight to them. I want them to see that all people have some worth in this life. As the saying goes, "God didn't make no trash". OK english teachers, don't grade me to hard, trying to make a point here.

I have known Kay Helgerson for just a short period of time but I have met a wonderfully talented caring person and I have suggested that she keep writing more about self esteem. Our children need this type of work in their lives. It pains me to see students throw their lives away because they feel so bad about themselves. I hope you have a chance to meet this wonderful LADY and get to know her, you will be glad you did.

So this middle school teacher sends a challenge to all special needs teachers, no to ALL teachers to buy this little book and read it to you entire class. You just might find a good lesson in this book and a way that will help your class open up to you and express their feelings about themselves. Get it, you will be glad you did.

Cheerfully illustrated by Chris Volion, Crinkles The Cricket is a lively and original story for young readers by Kay Helgerson and features a little cricket who is deeply unhappy as he tries to imitate what other animals can do. Finally Crinkles discovers what his unique talent as a cricket -- something only crickets can do! Highly recommended for family, school, and community library collections, Helgerson's rhyming text is wonderfully showcased by Volion's colorful artwork.

It's a great! book. Very easy to read, the pictures are beautiful and the story has a wonderful moral and easy for kids to understand.

A friend commented recently that I did not seem to like SciFi/Fantasy very much. Isn't true. I love it. Some years ago, however, I realized that it was pretty much all I read and that now that I was working I had stopped learning. That's when I put myself on my reading schedule, where I try to space out what I read and mix the genres up a little bit. I am really glad that I did that. It was a good decision. However, it sometimes means that when I do read speculative fiction, I fall on it like a dieter on a bar of chocolate. It also means that I am more easily disappointed if I have used my ration on a book that I do not really like.

Over the years, I have gotten fussier about what I enjoy. Even though there are writers that I recognize are good, there are not so many that I have gotten really excited about reading.

Steph Swainston is one of the really lucky exceptions. I love her work. I really enjoy the Castle series. (Dangerous Offspring is the third book and was released as The Modern World in the UK.) In fact, the only problem that I have with Steph Swainston is that despite pacing myself, I have now finished the last book that she has in print. This is unfair and impossible and I want something more to read.

Swainston's main character is a drug addicted winged currently immortal messenger named Jant Comet. The Fourlands is a world ruled by mortal kings and immortal avatars, with every avatar chosen by the Emperor and able to retain their position unless challenged. In this book, a grand engineering project designed to fight the ever-present threat of insect invasion leads to an even grander disaster. The Emperor himself rides to war, and more than one world is involved in the resulting battle...

Swainston's diction is quite distinctive. The best adjective that I have heard for her writing style is "elliptical". Not everyone likes it, but I love it (as already noted).

Recommended. Why haven't you read something by her already?

Immaginative in a stagnat genre. Swainston's creativity is unrivled by todays fantasy writers. Again, another winner by Swainston.

In the Fourlands, winged messenger Jant Comet the drug addict desires the better life as he has survived the invading horde of Insects over the last few centuries and even worse the decisions of the Immortal leadership. He would like to enjoy life for a change while pondering is that asking too much of a messenger sent to the world hovels and most dangerous spots in the Fourlands.

While he thinks he deserves some pampering R&R, Jant knows that will not happen probably for a millennia or so as long as the war continues. Architect Frost has persuaded her Circle of Immortals that the time has come to defeat the insurgent Insects, which would keep Jant busy in and out of the battlefields. At the same time seventeen years old Cyan, daughter of his friend Immortal Lightning has vanished. Jant wants to find her his style, but knows she should be untouchable at least by him even if she is a desirable siren. Finally the wise Immortal Emperor San embellishes Frost's plan and that makes Jant deeply concerned although he knows whatever is chosen for him, it is a good thing he is a drug addict albeit suddenly one with a pain in the wing conscience.

The Fourlands are so different from our world yet in some ways seem identical especially when it comes to power and pawns. The action-packed story line grips readers because this gritty forsaken landscape seems genuine especially the Gods (Immortals) war against terrorism. Jant is a terrific protagonist who recently struggles with his mission as if he suffers from battle fatigue syndrome leading to a conscience the worst thing an Immortal messenger needs as he relays suicidal orders. In spite of being well written and exciting, this is not an easy fantasy to read, as Steph Swainston paints a bleak world even for Immortals.

Harriet Klausner

My parents sent this book to our then-14-month-old son for Christmas last year. From the first reading (on Christmas morning) to now (he will be two years old next month), he has loved this book! The illustrations are stunning! It is one of his favorites and never fails to occupy his attention. I read it to him in Spanish while my husband 'reads' it to him in German (his native language) and through this past year, our son has learned to identify and say the words for the bee, the fish, the butterfly, a few numbers and even the ladybugs (mariquitas). In addition, we travel internationally at least twice a year and this is the book we have taken on our 10 hour+ flights with him to read during 'down' times.

My children have really enjoyed this book. They love to touch and count the little three-dimensional mariquitas/ladybugs. The spanish dialog on each page is not too long so my husband (who doesn't speak Spanish) can still read it to the kids without too much difficulty.

I highly recommend it.

I bought this book for my 20 month old daughter and she loves this book! She wants to read it every day. She loves the little mariquitas (ladybugs) and we are both learning Spanish together. We highly recommend this book.

This book has a lot of useful information about insects. It describes basic characteristics, life cycle, and much more. It also includes info on other terrestrial arthropods, such as spiders and centipedes. As a field guide, it focuses on families of insects, not species, which makes more sense because there are so many species that are hard to identify. There are great photographs and descritions as well.

These books are so helpful to use as references for painting.

Very clear photograhy. I would have liked a few close-up shots for some of the images perhaps, but otherwise a great book.

(Although I'll admit some of the inclusions in this book made my skin crawl!! I really just wanted the insects and not the spiders, but that's not the author's problem!)

This is really a nicely done guide and almost fits in my coat pocket. The pictures are fabulous and the insects are divided up into their respective families with very clear identifying traits. I'm really impressed, so much easy-to-use information in such a small book. This would be a great precursor to an entomology class. Some of my favorite critters are in the Psuedoscorpion order and are the cheliferids and chernetids, both of which look like tiny ticks with claws. So very cool. I actually found one once in Washington state--in my kitchen! It was very, very tiny. I digress. A book like this is handy if you are always finding insects and wondering what the heck you are looking at. A good value!

Once in a great while an author tells a story that is both awe inspiring and down to earth at the same time. , Dayton O. Hyde, author of "Don Coyote" has compiled such a work. His tale is the great American novel that not only speaks, but also sings from the heart, Hyde's story is told from his own point of view, and is about his life as a struggling cattle rancher in Oregon and the amazing friends one can meet thru tolerance and understanding. His is a tale of the brilliance one gains when one stops and listens to his environment instead of destroying it. It teaches that one can live in harmony with all of its creatures. In Hyde's life he has experienced the hardship of honest work, the toils and troubles of dreams not working out, and the friendship of one extraordinary creature. When Don Coyote first came into Hyde's life he was but a nuisance, a so called "threat" to his cattle, a threat that by all of the old laws of the west needed to be poisoned and snuffed out of existence imeadetly. Hyde was a good rancher, a good husband to his wife and a good father to his children, an over all a good person. So when it came time to raise his rifle in Don's direction Hyde couldn't kill him, no matter the old myth that coyotes live to only kill sheep, and should be destroyed on sight .Hyde didn't know it then, but that simple decision to not take an "animal's" life would change his own forever. The New York Times Book Review says, "Mr. Hyde is an engaging writer, and he portrays his coyote characters as charming, quirky and almost irresistibly appealing. He also convincingly demonstrates the senselessness of those who kill the wildlife he loves." Experience the extraordinary true story of a man who decided to observe nature with not just his eyes but also his heart, therefore discovering that man is not the controller of his environment but very much controlled by it. Welcome one and all to a tale of true friendship and

camaraderie. "Don Coyote" was published by Ballantine Books and is available wherever Ballatine Books are sold. Also by Dayton O. Hyde: "The Major, The Poacher and The Wonderful One-Trout River," "One Summer In Montana" and "Thunder Down the Track."

Don Coyote is one of my favorite books of all time. I have just finished this book - again - as I have done every year since 1990. This book is such an easy book to read - it is very hard for me to put this book down once started - and every year I am re-aquainted with Don, Coy, and the Hyde family. I have recommended this book (and the author) to my friends and family and cannot wait to share Don Coyote with my grandchildren.

Dayton Hyde has a wonderful command of the English language and paints pictures with words so you can actually see whatever he writes about. The story was engaging, humorous, informative, and well-written. It is a story of his own struggle to be at one with nature and habitat. He taught his children this love. He was a good father and a good husband, and he maintains his sense of wonder throughout the whole book. He draws the reader into his thoughts and world. I loved the book. I have now read two that Dayton Hyde has written, and this was my favorite, but I loved both books. He is a man I truly admire. He is a good teacher. I read the books before giving them to my son for Christmas, and I want to give other people his book. He shares his life with several coyotes on his ranch and learns their ways and their habits. I learned a lot. Thanks, Dayton!!!

I am a fourth-year biology undergrad at the University of Toronto. My program has consisted largely of ecology, evolution, and behavior, and throughout it I have attempted to incorporate my lifelong fascination with dragonflies into many of my research projects, essays, etc. Recently, while drafting a paper on the conservation of rare/significant dragonflies for a Conservation Biology class, I came across (and relied heavily upon) P.S. Corbet's book, Dragonflies: Behavior and Ecology of Odonata. I was beyond impressed. Having sifted through as much primary and secondary literature as I could get my hands on, his book quickly found the top of the pile, being by far the most current, comprehensive, and well-written study of dragonfly ecology and life history. In fact, my enthusiasm for his work must have been quite apparent, as my girlfriend thoughtfully gave me a copy for Christmas, so I could avoid any further library fines for a book I simply couldn't give back! I consider this book a must-have for any aspiring odonatologist, and highly recommend it to anyone who is awed (as I am) by these wonderful insects. Dragonflies: Behavior and Ecology of Odonata affords not only an educational, but a truly pleasurable read--a combination that only someone with personal enthusiasm and lifetime experience in a subject could produce. Anyone with a copy of Walker on the shelves should be sure to place Prof. Corbet's work next to it, as it truly represents a new standard in Odonatological literature.

Cory Robertson University of Toronto Hon. B.Sc. Biology

I bought this book as soon as it was published as a reference for my undergraduate senior thesis and it has since become one of my most invaluable sources of odonate information. As an entomologist with a passion for odonates, this book has always been a favorite of mine and for good reason. Corbet is one of the foremost odonate scientists in the world and after reading this phenomenal book, you will understand why. It is clear that the author knows an extraordinary amount of information about the ecology and behavior of these insects. He loves his subject and clearly wishes to share his knowledge and enthusiasm for the subject with others. In Dragonflies, Corbet presents a huge amount of information in an informative, yet straightforward manner, making excellent use of tables and illustrations where needed. This book is an awesome collection of a hundred years' worth of odonate research condensed into one concise, staggeringly complete volume. This is the sort of work all scientists should dream of writing. If there is anything you want to know about odonate behaviors known to science, you will find it in this book. Don't be put off by the price or the length - if you're seriously interested in dragonflies, it doesn't get any better than this.

It is a masterpiece, bound to remain indispensable to biologists for years to come.

We have a huge library of children's books for my two boys ages 2 years and 10 months, and this is an all time favorite! It has a great rhyming story and the illustrations are hysterical.....My older son asks for it almost every night as his bed time story.....a really wonderful book!

My 10th grade child loved this book it helped him write a 10 page research paper for english. The imagry and personal connections were plentyfull.

My 3-year-old son really enjoys this book. Fun illustrations with simple sentances. Not too text heavy which is perfect for toddlers. His favorite part is when a tick yells Mayday! mayday...Danger ahead! A good lesson about the consequences of a selfish and bad lie.

We bought this board book for our 16 month old daughter at the art museum in Chicago because it was so colorful and cute. My daughter loves this book so much. She is almost 2 now and she can say many of the words and loves to say and mimic the things that cleo is doing on each page. We were so happy to find that more Cleo books exist at the library too! There isn't a night that goes by that we don't read this book before bed. It ends with Cleo going to sleep and is very good for reading before bedtime.

My son got this book as a Christmas present when he was 9 months old. The book was a great read then, and we still enjoy it now that he is almost 2. I think it has a lot more use left in it. The book has really nice pictures, and a nice rhyme. We are cat lovers here, so this book was an especially big hit.

I love looking at children's books now that I have had my first child. But as I have shopped, I've learned that many books marked Baby to Preschool are not always appropriate for a baby under 1 or even 2 (aside from being excellent for chewing) because the topic or text is too advanced. But sometimes, it's nice to find a book that conceptually works for the little ones. And this book is perfect. Very simple text about a little cat who wants to find a friend and a home. The story is not too cloying, and it's not silly. But it is humorous, cute, and sweet. The colorful artwork matches the sweet, rhyming text. Highly recommended.

One evening in bed Eric, a third grader studying for a test on insects, magically enters grandfather's painting that depicts a meadow filled to the brim with insects. When Erik understands what actually has happened, he decides to start his search for the frame of the painting, so that he can jump back to his room. This quest will get him in contact with a colorful world of friendly and sometimes not so friendly insects. The wasps, bees, butterflies and other critters are all intrigued by that strange creature that calls himself Erik. As he gets invited to their homes, Erik discovers that in the end the difference between man en insect is not that big. You can indeed learn a lot from the insects, although they themselves have also quite a lot to learn.

Godfried Bomans published this Dutch novel (Erik of het klein insectenboek) originally in 1941. Meanwhile it has been translated in English as Eric in the Land of the Insects. Although the style is a bit outdated, most obvious in the old-fashioned dialogues, it still is an enjoyable read. The comparison with Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll is easily made, because the undertone of absurdity is present throughout the whole story. Nevertheless Erik is less forceful in advertising a certain sense of morality and good behavior. After reading the story you get more the impression that Godfried wanted to us to more enjoy the little things of life. A message that can never get outdated anyway.

Eric was going to sleep for the Insect test the next day. When Eric was about to fall asleep he saw his grandfathers picture come to life and started talking to Eric. Then eric got out of his bed and went to see his grandmothers picture and she wasn't there. Eric then touched the corner of one of the grassy places of the picture and got sucked into the frame. There he landed on a petal and was sitting next to a wasp. the wasp invited eric to his house, the inside of the flower. Then the wasp asked Eric to stay but Eric knew he couldn't. So then the waso called for a taxi bee that took him to a snail apartment villige. There he lift the bee and met a snail that took him around showing his apartments. The daddy longleg, caterpiller, horsefly, and etc. then one day the caterpiller didn't come to eat so they all went in his room and saw a cacoon. Then the snail wanted to kick the cacoon out but Eric said that it was okay and he will pay the bills. A few weeks later a butterfly came in and said "where am I?" Eric then payed the bill by taking a piece of his paper and giving it th the snail. That night eric and the butterfly flew off together untill the butterfly saw another female butterfly. The two butterflys got engaged and then Eric was by himself again doing his journey to get out of this world. Then Eric met a gigantic spider and in a few moment it was about to stike. then Eric woke up and saw the spider dead and three beetles standing in front of him. The leader beetle then asked eric to come with him and Eric did so. they went underground and then Eric ran away into a maze of tunnels. Then Eric met a group of ants that needed to hatch the larvas. Then Eric told the ants too take it outside and Eric went with them. Then the ants called Eric to go to a meeting about a great battle. Eric wanted to and went to battle withe the ants. Then another tribe of ant went into battle with them and just when the ants were going to kill Eric. He woke up and went to take his test at school. He failed it and had to sleep an hour early that day. When he was growing up he never told anyone about that experience. From that day forward he cared for the insects and always wandered that if that dream was real.

This book was very interesting and exiting. It takes yoou on an adventure that you will never go in you life. It makes you want to read on and has interesting details that you might catch. I can't describe this book well enough because it's too good of an adventure book.

My favorite part is when he runs away from everyone that he meets and how it ended. These parts are my favorite because first he has to run from everyone because he isn't an insect and the ending summarized the story.

This book is absolutely delightful! I am afraid that the targetted audience (ages 9-12, grades 5-8) are just that segment of the population that will, temporarily, not really appreciate it. I read it aloud to my five year old daughter and I would be hard pressed to say who enjoyed it more. She loved the fantasy and adventure. I was charmed by the quaint language and usage and amused by the satire. My husband is now reading it and says it's a great way to relax at the end of the day - it puts all the quotidian nonsence into perspective! I suggest getting this book to read to your toddlers and then putting it away until they are ready for a bit of fun to unwind while studying for college finals: it will awaken fond memories, and be something they can continue to go back to for a pleasant "time out" from "fast-paced modern-day living".