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Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science, Stage 1

Bugs Are Insects (Let's-Read-And-Find-Out Science: Stage 1

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Is a ladybug really a bug?Is a honeybee an insect?How about a spider?How do you know?Find out how you can tell if a beautiful butterfly or a crawling centipede is actually an insect or something else. Discover a hidden world of tiny creatures building their homes, stalking their prey, and hiding from their enemies right in your own backyard.

33 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

3 people are currently reading
307 people want to read

About the author

Anne Rockwell

227 books46 followers

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5 stars
182 (46%)
4 stars
110 (27%)
3 stars
80 (20%)
2 stars
13 (3%)
1 star
8 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
Profile Image for Cherina.
84 reviews2 followers
October 17, 2008
Summary: This nonfiction picture book is all about insects. It describes that characteristics that define an insect and provides a multitude of examples. It also distinguishes the difference between and insect and a bug (very interest and something that I didn't know). Not only does this book list plenty of examples of insects, it also provides example of creatures that are not insects. Overall, it is a really informative and educational book.

Uses: read aloud in grades 2nd-4th; use to introduce some scientific terms like external skeleton, antennae, thorax, and abdomen; use as an example of the nonfiction genre; independent reading for transitional or fluent readers; recommend to students who love and are interested in insects

Literary Devices: voice (directs questions to the reader)

Other: Illustrations are appealing. I love the textures (it adds dimension to the illustrations. I also love how the pictures of the bees look fuzzy just like a bee is fuzzy.
Profile Image for Friend of Pixie.
611 reviews27 followers
April 8, 2010
This book makes it clear what the difference is between bugs, insects, arachnids, and beetles. I had no idea that "bugs" were really a category; I thought it was just a slang term for all kinds of creepy-crawlies. Not so! True bugs are an order of insects with traits all their own. The pictures in this book are well-done, with the parts of the insects clearly drawn. Targeted to ages 3-6.
24 reviews3 followers
February 16, 2017
This is part of an excellent science series Let's-Read-and-Find-Out published Harper-Collins Publishers for children with subjects ranging from The Human Body to Space. The illustrations are large and colorful and the text does not talk down to the little ones with ample information about each subject. The parent or reader can choose to overlook some details to tailor the reading to their child.
488 reviews
February 7, 2023
This book is part of the excellent Let's-Read-And-Find-Out-Science series from Harper Trophy. It's in the Plants and Animals subcategory of Stage 1 books.

The first thing this book taught me that I didn't know is that 'bug' is not a slang term for insects. It's a subcategory of insects that have beaks for mouths and triangle-shaped heads. Who knew? Not me.

Thanks to this book, I can tell you the difference between an insect, a beetle, and a bug. Can you tell me? If not, better read this! :-)

I would suggest three changes for future editions: the book asks the question, 'is a lady bug an insect?' Then it sets that question aside to focus on a different species. I would answer the ladybug question first before going on to the new species. Why have two questions open? Answer them one-after-another for clarity's sake.

Also, the author and illustrator assumes I can recognize the different species of insects on each page. That assumes 1) the reader is a native speaker and is familiar with these words, and 2) that I know what the darn things look like. For example, on page 24 and 25, I can figure out that the bottom left illustration is a water boatman because I know what a grasshopper, bee, and cricket look like. But for ESL students, could you make that assumption? They don't know the terms of these insects. Why not have cutlines for each one? I didn't recognize the insects on pages 18 and 19, the author and illustrator assume I know. Heck, I'm old enough to be a grandmother and I don't know. I can guess the water strider is on page 19. Help the ESL reader with cutlines!

I finished the book wondering what is the state of these insects during our ongoing Sixth Extinction. Should this book explain, even a little, how these populations have declined? Just asking.
621 reviews
picture-books
August 11, 2022
Storytime 17 kids ages 4-5
Book one (3-4 minutes): Bugs are Insects by Anne Rockwell (abbreviate)

Song/rhyme/game one (3-4 minutes): The Roly Poly Roll by Super Simple Songs

Book two (3-4 minutes): Bugs on the Bus by Paul Orshoski

Song/rhyme/game two (3-4 minutes): with shaker eggs to be the ladybug

Ladybug, ladybug, fly out of the rose,
And land right on my little nose.
Ladybug, ladybug, fly out of the farm,
And land right on my little _____.
Ladybug, ladybug, fly out of the tree,
And land right on my little _____.
Ladybug, ladybug, fly out of your bed,
And land right on my little _____.
Ladybug, ladybug, fly off of the boulder,
And land right on my little _____.
Ladybug, ladybug, fly out of the jelly,
And land right on my little _____.

Book three (3-4 minutes): Under One Rock: bugs, Slugs, and other Ughs by Anthony D. Fredericks

Song/ rhyme/ game three (3-4 minutes): with two scarves for wings

I’m a little beetle and I wiggle all day.
If you get too close to me, I’ll fly away!
I’m a little bumblebee and I wiggle all day.
If you get too close to me, I’ll fly away!
I’m a little ladybug and I wiggle all day.
If you get too close to me, I’ll fly away!
I’m a little grasshopper and I wiggle all day.
If you get too close to me, I’ll fly away!
I’m a little butterfly and I wiggle all day.
If you get too close to me, I’ll fly away!

Book Four (3-4 minutes): Diary of a Worm by

Craft: https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/im...
26 reviews
April 11, 2018
1.) No awards.
2.) Appropriate grade levels: Preschool-3rd grade
3.) Original 3 line summary: This is an informational text all about insects. This book states a plethora of facts about insects along with the many different parts of insects. It also describes what does not make something an insect.
4.) Original 3 line review: I thought that this book had great illustrations. It also has simple words for children to understand as well as words to strengthen the children's vocabulary. Overall, this book is a great read for children who are interested in learning about insects.
5.) One possible in class use: One class use would be having students create an insect that they saw in the book using a variety of art supplies.
95 reviews
May 15, 2022
How you ever wondered what the differences of a bug and insect are well the look is over this is the book for you. You can find out what the differences of what a insect is and what it is not.The multiple examples are provided with pretty colors. The key differences of bug and insects can tell the difference in the real world. It can help young learners to know and see the difference. It is informative and creative.
Profile Image for Katie.
825 reviews4 followers
February 17, 2021
Taught me that bugs are different than insects! The illustrations in this book look to be made out of glued together pieces of paper. Has quite a few facts and helps kids learn about what makes an insect and insect.
Profile Image for Karen Dransfield.
705 reviews3 followers
June 27, 2023
(2023) Let's Read and Find Out Science books. Stage 1.
An informative children's picture book about what is an insect, and what isn't. I'm working on some insect reading topics and reading through a range of picture books.
Profile Image for Hendrix.
107 reviews
July 5, 2025
This was a long one, but I’m getting really good at listening to each page! Reading with mommy is the perfect way to start a Saturday morning. We learned so much about insects! 🐜 🐞🦟🪲🪳(I didn’t include the spider emoji, because we learned that spiders are NOT insects, they are arachnids!)
Profile Image for Nicole Fanning.
41 reviews
August 31, 2025
This book is packed with information. I wouldn’t place it in the category of leisurely picture book reads, but it’s very educational and can be used for all sorts of purposes. It would pair nicely with corresponding crafts or a nature study walk.
99 reviews
September 26, 2017
Very educational book on insects I think children would really like this book especially those interested in insects. There were even things I did not know that I learned about.
Profile Image for Lara.
249 reviews10 followers
April 16, 2018
Beautifully created paper art insects teach the basics of what makes an insect an insect and more. Just right for early elementary age children.
Profile Image for Melissa Namba.
2,217 reviews15 followers
September 14, 2021
This was surprisingly good. It explains how to identify an insect versus other things like arachnids. I have a very curious niece who I know will enjoy this.
Profile Image for Kristy.
229 reviews12 followers
December 1, 2023
Fantastic book! My uncle is an entomologist & I still learned something about bugs & insects I didn’t know.
40 reviews
September 14, 2017
Summary: This book is all about insects. It provides many examples of insects and discussing the characteristics that all insects have.

Evaluation: I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to read with elementary students. It was very descriptive and had good pictures.

Teaching: I could use this book when teaching science and specifically about insects. Reading this book with students while stopping to discuss certain parts would be a greta way to discuss different types of insects. Perhaps doing a fun activity with bugs after would be fun as well to give students an opportunity to practice what they learned about bugs!
Profile Image for Siskiyou-Suzy.
2,143 reviews22 followers
July 26, 2016
Bugs are Insects is a great non-fiction book for young and older children. It is both simple enough that three and four-year-olds can listen to the words and not get totally lost and interesting enough that adults can learn something from it!

In Bugs are Insects, the author defines bug as the true definition of bug. It bothered me a little bit that she didn't also explain that bug is colloquially used to refer to all insects and many other creepy-crawlies. Even if a word usage is not scientifically accurate, if it is common enough, it should be accepted to a certain extent.
Profile Image for Shanna Gonzalez.
427 reviews42 followers
May 21, 2009
This is a science picture book about different kinds of insects and their characteristics. Targeted for the preschool-kindergarten age, it introduces basic concepts to differentiate insects, bugs, arachnids, and other kinds of creatures. The artwork is unusual for a science book in that it is collage art rather than drawings or photographs; but it is colorful and interesting, a nice (but non-essential) addition to any bug-loving child's library.
Profile Image for Kellee Hao.
100 reviews3 followers
October 22, 2012
Content: Animals/Bugs
Grade: Pre-K
This book is perfect for the students in your classroom who are interested in nature, and especially insects! It's very informative and descriptive. Not only will you tell you about the details of an insect, but it also includes mathematic counting skills in there as well. For example, an insect has 3 body parts and 6 legs, can you count the ladybug and see if it is an insect or a bug?
115 reviews
November 19, 2012
This book can also be used for science and language arts. The students can learn about the different types of bugs for science. For language arts, the students can learn about what a non-fiction book consists of. It is a very details book. It has detailed descriptions that the students thought were disgusting, but it had captions to help determine what it is.
Profile Image for Rosa Cline.
3,328 reviews44 followers
December 11, 2014
This is a very good "Science" book for smaller children. My almost 3 year old granddaughter sat oh my lap and we read this together. It wasn't so boring that she lost interest in it and it had some key important factors that even young children could understand without it being REALLY BASIC. Lots of illustrations of various insects and bugs and tells what the difference is in them.
Profile Image for Brandin.
50 reviews
December 2, 2008
Genre: Picture book/informational

Topic/Theme: Science, animals, vocabulary, nature

Grade Level: K-3

Classroom Use: Read aloud, independent reading, guided reading

Comments: Great for integration with science lesson or to introduce higher level vocabulary.
Profile Image for Jenna.
40 reviews
October 8, 2008
Bugs and insects are diffret.insects have six legs,external skeletons,and thay bodys have three parts.bugs dont have three body parts and thay dont have six legs and thay have a triangel haeds there and moth is like a beak bugs,and insects are differt thats that
Profile Image for Sharia A..
104 reviews1 follower
February 22, 2013
This book is excellent for Prek classrooms. This book has great pictures and basic words for children to understand. This book can get children involved in science. This book is easy to read also because the pictures are easy to understand.
Profile Image for Jennifer Heise.
1,746 reviews61 followers
January 29, 2019
What a great picturebookfor the early reader or preschool bug enthusiast! Clear pictures, engaging but simple text, and solid facts-- along with some bugs and information that aren't just repeats from every other bug book!
112 reviews
December 5, 2010
For kindergarten children, I would use this book in the classroom for science to describe to children the different insects that surround us. In addition, the characteristics of differnt insects.
Profile Image for Lea.
173 reviews
July 23, 2011
A basic discussion of various types of bugs and their distinguishing features with a level of detail appropriate to preschool aged children.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews

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