100 Best Children's Bug Books of All Time (Updated for 2026)

1

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Eric Carle

5.0

THE all-time classic story, from generation to generation, sold somewhere in the world every 30 seconds! Have you shared it with a child or grandchild in your life?

One sunny Sunday, the caterpillar was hatched out of a tiny egg. He was very hungry. On Monday, he ate through one apple; on Tuesday, he ate through three plums--and still he was hungry. When full at last, he made a cocoon around himsel

2

Some Bugs

Angela DiTerlizzi, Brendan Wenzel

4.7

Get the buzz on bugs in this picture book from Angela DiTerlizzi!

Grab your magnifying glass!
Find your field guide!
And come hop, hide, swim, and glide
through this buggy backyard world!

Featuring insects including butterflies and moths, crickets and cicadas, bumblebees and beetles, this zippy rhyming exploration of backyard-bug behavior is sure to have insect enthusiasts of all ages bugging out with

3

The Very Busy Spider: A Lift-the-Flap Book

Eric Carle

4.6

Now one of Eric Carle's most popular books is a lift-the-flap book! The horse wants to go for a ride, the cow wants to eat some grass, and the sheep wants to run in the meadow—but where is the very busy spider? You'll have to lift the flap to find out!

4

The Grouchy Ladybug

Eric Carle

4.6

From Eric Carle, New York Times bestselling author of The Very Hungry Caterpillar and From Head to Toe, comes the classic story of one very grouchy ladybug. Eric Carle's bright artwork and signature style will charm both ardent fans and new readers alike.

As children follow the Grouchy Ladybug on her journey, they will learn the important concepts of time, size, and shape, as well as the benefits o

5

Du Iz Tak?

Carson Ellis

4.5

The creator of Home turns a droll eye to the natural world, with gorgeous art and a playful invented language.

Du iz tak? What is that? As a tiny shoot unfurls, two damselflies peer at it in wonder. When the plant grows taller and sprouts leaves, some young beetles arrive to gander, and soon—with the help of a pill bug named Icky—they wrangle a ladder and build a tree fort. But this is the wild wor

Recommended by Jon Burgerman.

Jon Burgerman

Aside from the utterly charming artwork and attention to detail throughout, I love the playfulness with the invented language. [source]

6

James and the Giant Peach

Roald Dahl, Quentin Blake

4.5

When James accidentally drops some magic crystals by the old peach tree, strange things start to happen. The peach at the top of the tree begins to grow, and before long it's as big as a house. When James discovers a secret entranceway into the fruit and crawls inside, he meets wonderful new friends--the Old-Green-Grasshopper, the dainty Ladybug, and the Centipede of the multiple boots. After year

Recommended by Tilly Burn.

Tilly Burn

I think it is one of his darkest books and I think it’s a very sad book. It’s his first ever children’s book, written in 1961, fresh off the back of writing his short stories. [source]

7

Bugs! Bugs! Bugs!

Bob Barner

4.4

"Budding entomologists will fly to this book like bees to honey," said School Library Journal, and it's true! Pretty ladybugs, fluttering butterflies, creepy daddy longlegs, and round roly polies are just some of the familiar creatures featured in this whimsically illustrated insect album from veteran children's book author-illustrator Bob Barner. Check out the actual size bug chart, which provide

8

Charlotte's Web

E. B White and Kate DiCamillo

4.4

Don’t miss one of America’s top 100 most-loved novels, selected by PBS’s The Great American Read.

This beloved book by E. B. White, author of Stuart Little and The Trumpet of the Swan, is a classic of children's literature that is "just about perfect." This paper-over-board edition includes a foreword by two-time Newbery winning author Kate DiCamillo.

Some Pig. Humble. Radiant. These are the words

Recommended by Mary Burkey.

Mary Burkey

One thing that was also very nice was having a title that’s for younger children recognized as a truly stellar audiobook, because sometimes people think that audiobooks are to help kids learn to read and not for them to fall in love with literature. And that’s what the audiobook recording of Charlotte’s Web does. It lets young kids and their parents revisit a beautiful title and fall in love with the book. [source]

Cover unavailable

9

Butterfly Butterfly: A Book of Colors

Petr Horacek

4.4

Little ones will hover over this colorful look at insect critters as they peek through die-cuts and enjoy a final pop-up surprise.

Lucy sees a beautiful butterfly in the garden, along with a bright green beetle, a brilliant blue dragonfly, some red ladybugs, and many more flying and crawling things. But when will the radiant butterfly appear again? Petr Horácek uses his trademark saturated hues and

Cover unavailable

10

Diary of a Worm

Doreen Cronin, Harry Bliss

4.4

This is the diary . . . of a worm. Surprisingly, a worm not that different from you or me: He lives with his parents, plays with his friends, and even goes to school. But unlike you or me, he never has to take a bath, he gets to eat his homework, and because he doesn't have legs, he just can't do the hokey pokey -- no matter how hard he tries. Oh, and his head looks a lot like his rear end.

Doreen

11

I Love Bugs!

Emma Dodd

4.4

A little boy loves all kinds of bugs, from spiky spiny bugs to

pretty spotty bugs. But the best bugs are hairy bugs--eightlegged scary bugs that send the boy squealing. Perfect for miniscientists everywhere!

12

Can You Make a Scary Face?

Jan Thomas

4.4

What kind of a face would you make if a tickly green bug were sitting on your nose? Or if it were-eek!-inside your shirt? Could you make a scary face to frighten it away? Or, even better, stand up and do the chicken dance? Yes? Then better get to it! This exuberant, interactive picture book starring a bossy little ladybug and a GIANT hungry frog will have kids leaping up and down and out of their

13

The Very Lonely Firefly

Eric Carle

4.3

A VERY classic from Eric Carle, creator of The Very Hungry Caterpillar!

When a very lonely firefly goes out into the night searching for other fireflies, it sees a lantern, a candle, and the eyes of a dog, cat, and owl all glowing in the darkness. It even sees a surprise celebration of light. But it is not until it discovers other fireflies that it finds exactly what it's looking for--a surprise su

14

The Very Impatient Caterpillar

Ross Burach

4.3

HEY! What are you guys doing?

We're going to metamorphosize.

Meta-WHAT-now?

Transform into butterflies.

Right. Right. I knew that...

WAIT?! You're telling me I can become a BUTTERFLY?

Yes.

With wings?

Yes.

Wait for ME!!

Ross Burach's hilarious, tongue-in-cheek exploration of metamorphosis will make you flutter with glee, while also providing real facts about how caterpillars transform into butterflies.

Cover unavailable

15

In the Tall, Tall Grass

Denise Fleming

4.3

If you were a fuzzy caterpillar crawling through the tall, tall grass on a sunny afternoon, what would you see?

To find out, just follow the tiny tour guide as he inches his way through the pages of this book. You'll see ants and bees and birds--hip-hopping bunnies too. You'll even hear the sounds some of them make.

Crunch, munch,
caterpillars lunch...
Crack, snap, wings flap...

Beginning as the sun is

16

Diary of a Spider

Doreen Cronin, Harry Bliss

4.3

This is the diary... of a spider. But don't be worried – he's more scared of you and your gigantic shoe! Actually, he's a lot like you. He goes to gym class and has Grandparents' Day at school. But he also spins sticky webs, scales walls, and takes wind–catching lessons. Lucky for him, his best friend is a fly!
Doreen Cronin and Harry Bliss, the team behind the #1 bestselling Diary Of A Worm, spin

Cover unavailable

17

Hi! Fly Guy (Fly Guy, #1)

Tedd Arnold

4.3

When Buzz captures a fly to enter in The Amazing Pet Show, his parents and the judges tell him that a fly cannot be a pet, but Fly Guy proves them wrong.

18

Diary of a Fly

Doreen Cronin, Harry Bliss

4.3

This is the diary...of a fly. A fly who, when she's not landing on your head or swimming in your soup, is trying to escape her 327 brothers and sisters who are driving her crazy!

Even though she's little -- just like her best friends Worm and Spider -- Fly wants to be a superhero. And why not? She walks on walls, sees in all directions at once, and can already fly!

Doreen Cronin and Harry Bliss, the

19

Ten Little Caterpillars

Bill Martin Jr., Lois Ehlert

4.3

Ten little caterpillars are out and about in our big, wide world--come join them! You never know what you might find. . . . A butterfly, perhaps?

Readers of all ages have celebrated the work of Bill Martin Jr and Lois Ehlert ever since their first collaboration on Chicka Chicka Boom Boom more than twenty-five years ago. Now these two picture-book geniuses are together again in this dynamic and vis

20

Hank's Big Day: The Story of a Bug

Evan Kuhlman, Chuck Groenink

4.3

Perfect for reading aloud, this spare, charming picture book about a day in the life of a pill bug in suburbia is also about an unusual friendship.

Hank is a pill bug with a busy life—for a pill bug, that is. His daily routine involves nibbling a dead leaf, climbing up a long stick, avoiding a skateboarder, and playing pretend with his best friend, a human girl named Amelia, in her backyard. And w

21

Aaaarrgghh! Spider!

Lydia Monks

4.3

Don’t let this lonely spider frighten you! She just wants to be a family pet—and she thinks she would make a better pet than the typical dog or cat. But every time this clever spider tries to impress her chosen family, she scares them instead, until the day she unwittingly enchants them. Aaaarrgghh! Spider! spins a lively tale about one creature’s efforts to find her place.

22

Bugs Galore

Peter Stein, Bob Staake

4.3

From the inspired team behind Cars Galore comes a new read-aloud buzzing with nonstop rhymes and swarming with comical retro illustrations.

Bugs, bugs, BUGS galore creep, slither, stink, and squirm; scurry, fly — ewww, a worm! Dig in as a flurry of bugs of every shape, size, and color crawl across the page in a veritable infestation of whimsy and humor. Cars Galore creators Peter Stein and Bob Staa

23

Fly!

Karl Newsom Edwards

4.3

A charming read-aloud picture book about learning to be yourself, filled with movement and including a page with fun facts about bugs!
Fly can't wiggle like a worm. He can't jump like a grasshopper. And he can't swing like a spider.
Don't give up, Fly! Keep trying, and with a little help from your garden friends, you'll find your own special talent.
From acclaimed illustrator Karl Newsom Edward

24

Tiny Little Fly

Michael Rosen, Kevin Waldron

4.2

My, oh my! An elusive fly stirs up some mighty beasts in this witty tale for the very young, from a British Children’s Laureate and a talented new Irish illustrator.

When Tiny Little Fly sees great big toes (and lands on a great big nose), the poor elephant tries—tramp, crush, tramp—but can’t catch it. Off flies the fly! The teasing insect easily misses the rhino’s roll, squash, roll and the tiger’

25

I'm Trying to Love Spiders

Bethany Barton

4.2

The Official Spider Test.
What do you do when you see a spider?

a. Lay on a BIG spidey smoocheroo.

b. Smile, but back away slowly.

c. Grab the closest object, wind up, and let it fly.

d. Run away screaming.

If you chose b, c, or d, then this book is for you! (If you chose a, you might be crazy.)

I'm Trying to Love Spiders will help you see these amazing arachnids in a whole new light, from their awesomel

26

Superworm

Julia Donaldson

4.2

Superworm is super-long.
Superworm is super-strong.
Watch him wiggle! See him Squirm!
Hip, hip, hooray for SUPERWORM!

Never fear Superworm is here - and he's wiggling to the rescue! He can be a lasso, a fishing-line, even a skipping-rope.

But who will rescue Superworm when he falls prey to a wicked Wizard Lizard? Luckily, all of his insect friends have a cunning plan ...

"Julia Donaldson and Axel Schef

27

The Very Quiet Cricket

Eric Carle

4.2

A VERY classic from Eric Carle, creator of The Very Hungry Caterpillar!

One day a tiny cricket is born and meets a big cricket who chirps his welcome. The tiny cricket tries to respond, but there is no sound. The quiet cricket then makes his way into the world, meeting one insect after another, each of whom greets the little cricket with a cheery hello--the hum of a bee, the whirr of a dragonfly, t

28

Step Gently Out

Helen Frost, Rick Lieder

4.2

Stunning close-up photography and a lyrical text implore children to look more closely at the world around them.

Be still, and watch a single blade of grass.
An ant climbs up to look around.
A honeybee flies past.

What would happen if you walked very, very quietly and looked ever so carefully at the natural world outside? You might see a cricket leap, a moth spread her wings, or a spider step across a

29

I Love Bugs!

Philemon Sturges, Shari Halpern

4.2

Some bugs hop.

Some bugs
make honey.

Some bugs light
up the sky!

Come explore the amazing world of bugs! The friendly bugs that crawl all over these pages include hungry caterpillars, busy ants, and graceful dragonflies. Which one is your favorite?

30

The Honeybee

Kirsten Hall, Isabelle Arsenault

4.2

Buzz from flower to flower with a sweet honeybee in this timely, clever, and breathtakingly gorgeous picture book from critically acclaimed author Kirsten Hall and award-winning illustrator Isabelle Arsenault.

Bzzz…

What’s that?
Do you hear it?
You’re near it.
It’s closer,
it’s coming,
it’s buzzing,
it’s humming…

A BEE!

With zooming, vibrant verse by Kirsten Hall and buzzy, beautiful illustrations by

Cover unavailable

31

The Spider and the Fly

Mary Howitt, Davina Porter, et al

4.2

"'Will you walk into my parlor,' said the Spider to the Fly..."
is easily one of the most recognized and quoted first lines in all of English verse. But do you have any idea how the age-old tale of the Spider and the Fly ends? Join celebrated artist Tony DiTerlizzi as he -- drawing inspiration from one of his loves, the classic Hollywood horror movies of the 1920s and 1930s -- shines a cinematic

32

Twig

Aura Parker

4.2

Finding friends isn't easy when no one can find you!

One, two, three. One, two three.

Why won't someone play with me?

Heidi is a stick insect, long and thin like the twig of a tree. It's her first day at Bug School, where she hopes to learn lots and make new friends. But no one will talk to her . . . and no one will play with her at lunch. No one notices her at all - not even her teacher Miss Orb. Pe

33

Inch by Inch

Leo Lionni

4.2

Can a song be measured?

Meet a winning, winsome inchworm, proud of his ability to measure anything under the sun, from a robin's tail to a toucan's beak. When a hungry nightingale threatens to eat him for breakfast unless he can measure her song, the inchworm calls on his craft and skill to creatively solve the dilemma.

34

I Like Bugs

Margaret Wise Brown, G. Brian Karas

4.2

Black Bugs. Green Bugs. Fat Bugs. Buggy Bugs. I like bugs!

It's time for YOU! Pick your favorite spot to read. This is going to be a great book!

35

Big Bug

Henry Cole

4.2

Big and small are all in the comparisons on this farm.

36

The Backyard Bug Book for Kids: Storybook, Insect Facts, and Activities

Lauren Davidson

4.2

Cover unavailable

37

Ten Little Ladybugs

Melanie Gerth, Laura Huliska-Beith

4.2

One by one, ten tactile bugs disappear. Where did they all go? Young ones will love finding out as they feel their way through the sturdy, colorful pages of this innovative book. The cute critters provide a hands-on learning experience and the rhyming text reinforces the counting concept. Interactive, educational, adorable -- this magical countdown book adds up to a whole lot of fun.

Cover unavailable

38

One Little Blueberry

Tammi Salzano, Kat Whelan

4.2

Cover unavailable

39

Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears

Verna Aardema, Leo Dillon, Diane Dillon

4.2

"In this Caldecott Medal winner, Mosquito tells a story that causes a jungle disaster. "Elegance has become the Dillons' hallmark. . . . Matching the art is Aardema's uniquely onomatopoeic text . . . An impressive showpiece."
-Booklist, starred review.

Winner of Caldecott Medal in 1976 and the Brooklyn Art Books for Children Award in 1977.

40

A Butterfly Is Patient: (Nature Books for Kids, Children's Books Ages 3-5, Award Winning Children's Books)

Dianna Aston and Sylvia Long

4.2

From the creators of the award-winning An Egg Is Quiet, A Seed Is Sleepy, and A Rock Is Lively comes this gorgeous and informative introduction to the world of butterflies. An incredible variety of butterflies are celebrated here in all of their beauty and wonder, from the tiny Arian Small Blue to the grand Queen Alexandra's Birdwing. Perfect for a child's bedroom bookshelf or for the classroom!

41

Hey, Little Ant

Phillip M. Hoose, Hannah Hoose, Debbie Tilley

4.1

What would you do if the ant you were about to step on looked up and started talking? Would you stop and listen? What if your friends saw you hesitate? That’s what happens in this funny, thought-provoking book. Originally a song by a father-daughter team, this conversation between two creatures, large and small, is bound to inspire important discussions. It might even answer that classic childhood

42

What the Ladybug Heard

Julia Donaldson, Lydia Monks

4.1

Hefty Hugh and Lanky Len have a cunning plan: they'll sneak past all the animals and steal the farmer's fine prize cow. But they forget all about the tiniest, quietest creature on the farm—the ladybug. She has a plan of her own.
Julia Donaldson turns her literary expertise to a farm setting, and comes up with a rollicking barnyard mystery. Lydia Monks' colorful collage illustrations go perfectly w

43

100 Bugs!: A Counting Book

Kate Narita, Suzanne Kaufman

4.1

A 2018 Mathical Honor Book

How many bugs can you count? From walking sticks to spittlebugs, dragonflies to katydids, discovering 10 bugs at a time, you just might see 100 bugs!

Little explorers will learn 10 different ways to count to 10, using 10 different kinds of bugs, and get all the way to 100 by the end of their adventure. With Suzanne Kaufman's bright, whimsical illustrations and Kate Narita'

44

Bee: A Peek-Through Picture Book

Britta Teckentrup

4.1

Fans of Tree: A Peek-Through Picture Book can now fly along with Bee on her very busy day!

Through a hole in the book's cover, a bee is buzzing inside a flower. Peek into this bright and lively book and discover the big ways this little insect contributes to the beauty of the environment, from pollinating colorful flowers to buzzing about the bright and beautiful meadow.

With clever peekaboo holes t

45

The Fly

Petr Horacek

4.1

There’s never a dull moment in this funny, beautifully illustrated tale depicting a pesky fly in a whole new light.

The housefly in this story doesn’t understand why people won’t share their food with him or play with him . . . and why do they keep trying to give him a swat? He’s not doing any harm! In a clever, interactive novelty book buzzing with fun, Petr Horácek may make readers reluctant to t

46

The Beetle Book

Steve Jenkins

4.1

Beetles squeak and beetles glow.
Beetles stink, beetles sprint, beetles walk on water.
With legs, antennae, horns, beautiful shells, knobs, and other oddities—what’s not
to like about beetles?
The beetle world is vast: one out of every four living things on earth is a beetle.
There are over 350,000 different species named so far and scientists suspect there may
be as many as a million.
From the goliath b

47

A Beetle Is Shy

Dianna Hutts Aston, Sylvia Long

4.1

The award-winning duo of Dianna Hutts Aston and Sylvia Long team up again, this time creating a gorgeous look at the fascinating world of beetles. From flea beetles to bombardier beetles, an incredible variety of these beloved bugs are showcased here in all their splendor. Poetic in voice and elegant in design, this carefully researched and visually striking book is perfect for sparking children's

48

Anansi the Spider: A Tale from the Ashanti

Gerald McDermott

4.1

Anansi the Spider is one of the great folk heroes of the world. He is a rogue, a mischief maker, and a wise, lovable creature who triumphs over larger foes.

In this traditional Ashanti tale, Anansi sets out on a long, difficult journey. Threatened by Fish and Falcon, he is saved from terrible fates by his sons. But which of his sons should Anansi reward? Calling upon Nyame, the God of All Things, A

Cover unavailable

49

I Spy Fly Guy! (Fly Guy, #7)

Tedd Arnold

4.1

The 7th book in the bestselling Fly Guy series--with fun foil covers!

When Fly Guy and Buzz play hide-and-seek, Fly Guy hides in his favorite place--the garbage can. But as Buzz finishes counting, the garbageman drives away with the garbage and Fly Guy, too! A very worried Buzz follows the truck to the dump, where he sees zillions of flies. Where is Fly Guy?!

Time after time, Buzz thinks he spies Fl

50

Escargot

Dashka Slater

4.1

Bonjour! Escargot is a beautiful French snail who wants only two things:

1. To be your favorite animal.
2. To get to the delicious salad at the end of the book.

But when he gets to the salad, he discovers that there's a carrot in it. And Escargot hates carrots. But when he finally tries one—with a little help from you!—he discovers that it's not so bad after all

51

The Very Lazy Ladybug Pop-Up

Isobel Finn, Jack Tickle

4.1

Now available in a pop-up edition, this acclaimed picture books tells the story of a ladybug so lazy that she doesn't know how to fly, so she catches a ride on each animal that passes by.

52

The Secret Life of Bees

Sue Monk Kidd

4.1

Set in South Carolina in 1964, The Secret Life of Bees tells the story of Lily Owens, whose life has been shaped around the blurred memory of the afternoon her mother was killed. When Lily's fierce-hearted black "stand-in mother," Rosaleen, insults three of the deepest racists in town, Lily decides to spring them both free. They escape to Tiburon, South Carolina--a town that holds the secret to he

Cover unavailable

53

Martina the Beautiful Cockroach: A Cuban Folktale

Carmen Agra Deedy, Michael Austin

4.1

Martina the beautiful cockroach doesn't know coffee beans about love and marriage.
That's where her Cuban family comes in. While some of the Cucarachas offer her gifts to make her more attractive, only Abuela, her grandmother, gives her something really useful: un consejo increible, some shocking advice. At first, Martina is skeptical of her Abuela's unorthodox suggestion, but when suitor after sui

Cover unavailable

54

Soup for One

Ethan Long

4.1

Shoo, fly, shoo! One little fly thinks he’s getting a big bowl of hot soup all to himself. Little does he know, interlopers wait around every corner. Help him to count the unwelcome pals that join him for lunch—one after another after another—up to ten! Who will get the last slurp of soup? Does the ravenous chef have a chance against ten hungry flies? Or will the sneaky spider hiding on every page

55

The Big Book of Bugs

Yuval Zommer

4.1

From moths and beetles to worms and spiders, the world is crawling with fascinating bugs. The Big Book of Bugs is the first fact-filled book for children to explore the vast array of creepy-crawlies that share our Earth.

In the first pages, children learn that bugs live nearly everywhere on the planet and gain tips on how to become a young bug spotter. As the book continues, the scenic compositions

56

Old Black Fly

Jim Aylesworth, Stephen Gammell

4.1

Nothing drives a family crazy faster than an old black fly on a hot summer day, especially when the family's a little crazy already. And this fly is as bad as they come. He knows every low-down trick in the book--and won't rest until he's gone through them all.

He ate on the crust
of the Apple pie.
He bothered the Baby
and made her cry.
Shoo fly!
Shoo fly!
Shooo.

57

The Metamorphosis

Franz Kafka

4.1

Alternate cover edition of ISBN 0553213695 / 9780553213690

"As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect. He was laying on his hard, as it were armor-plated, back and when he lifted his head a little he could see his domelike brown belly divided into stiff arched segments on top of which the bed quilt could hardly keep in positi

Recommended by David Lynch and David Lynch.

David Lynch

David Lynch said this is one of his most-recommended books. [source]

David Lynch

David Lynch said this is one of his most-recommended books. [source]

58

Walter's Wonderful Web

Tim Hopgood

4.1

A determined little spider named Walter is trying to make a sturdy web that will stand up to the blustery wind. The webs he makes at first are woven in special shapes--a triangle, a square, a circle--but they are still wibbly-wobbly. Can Walter make a web that is both wonderful and strong? This simple, vibrant adventure is a lively companion to our two previous Hopgood "first books" about colors a

59

Waiting for Wings

Lois Ehlert

4.1

Every spring, butterflies emerge and dazzle the world with their vibrant beauty. But where do butterflies come from? How are they born? What do they eat--and how?
With a simple, rhyming text and glorious color-drenched collage, Lois Ehlert provides clear answers to these and other questions as she follows the life cycle of four common butterflies, from their beginnings as tiny hidden eggs and hung

60

Paint by Sticker Kids: Beautiful Bugs: Create 10 Pictures One Sticker at a Time!

Workman Publishing

4.1

Paint colorful creepy crawlies with stickers!

Step 1: Find the sticker
Step 2: Peel the sticker
Step 3: Place the sticker

...and watch your insect painting come to life!

Includes everything you need to create ten sticker paintings on sturdy card stock. Plus, all the pages are perforated—making it easy to tear out each finished work to frame and share!

Cover unavailable

61

Miss Spider's Tea Party

David Kirk

4.1

The modern classic about a sweet spider and her friends is now available for the first time in a Scholastic Bookshelf paperback version

"Miss Spider can't understand why insects flee in panic at her approach. Being a florivore herself, she only wants to invite them over for cakes and tea. The ironic air wafting through Kirk's rhymed tale will not be lost on young readers, and the insects in the big

62

The Icky Bug Alphabet Book

Jerry Pallotta and Ralph Masiello

4.1

For many children, "icky" bugs are endlessly fascinating. This book helps children discover why farmers like the praying mantis, how the water spider breathes underwater, and other intriguing facts about the world of bugs and insects.

Jerry Pallotta's lighthearted text and Ralph Masiello's vivid illustrations make this alphabetic exploration of small animal life both fun and informative.

63

Yucky Worms

Vivian French, Jessica Ahlberg

4.1

Here’s to nature’s recyclers! Kids will burrow right into this book about the industrious — and danger-filled — life of the delightfully yucky earthworm.

Who would want to be friends with a wiggly, slimy worm? You can’t even tell which end is which! But there’s more to these lowly creatures than meets the eye. Kids are invited to find out where worms live, see how they move, and understand why gard

64

Beetle Bop

Denise Fleming

4.1

They crawl up walls, they hide in cracks, they flip, they fly, and sometimes . . . crrrash. Beetles come in all shapes and sizes, and they are everywhere in this thoroughly buggy, beautifully designed book.

There are striped beetles, spotted beetles, all-over-dotted beetles--and don't forget the noisily gnawing beetles! Whether you love bugs or whether the sight of them makes you itch, you'll adore

Cover unavailable

65

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly

Simms Taback

4.1

An old favorite as you've never seen it before! Everyone knows the song about the old lady who swallowed a fly, a spider, a bird, and even worse, but who's ever seen what's going on inside the old lady's stomach? With this inventive die-cut artwork, Simms Tabak gives us a rollicking, eye-popping version of the well-loved poem.

66

Yoo-Hoo, Ladybug!

Mem Fox, Laura Ljungkvist

4.1

Can you locate Ladybug? A charming, playful seek-and-find adventure from beloved author Mem Fox.

Yoo-hoo, Ladybug!
Where are you?
There you are…
afloat in the bath,
with Duck and Giraffe!

Ladybug loves to hide. Come along on a treasure hunt to find this sneaky little bug, wherever she may be! Children will delight in this picture book game of hide-and-seek and will eagerly read along, pointing out Lady

67

What's Your Favorite Bug?

Eric Carle

4.1

In this companion to What's Your Favorite Animal? and What's Your Favorite Color?, Eric Carle and fourteen other beloved children's book artists illustrate their favorite bugs and explain why they love them.

Everybody has a favorite bug. Some like shiny, colorful beetles or busy ants or soft pale moths best. Others prefer spindly walking sticks or fuzzy caterpillars that turn into bright butterflie

68

Quick as a Cricket

Audrey Wood, Don Wood

4.1

A celebration of a child's growing self awareness, and a prime example of how books can contribute to this. Whether brave or shy, strong or weak, in the end the young boy celebrates all different, apparently contradictory parts of himself.

69

Among a Thousand Fireflies

Helen Frost, Rick Lieder

4.1

How can a firefly find the one, among so many? Exquisite photographs and poetic text evoke a sense of mystery and magic.

On a summer evening, just as the stars blink on, a firefly lands on a flower. Lights start to flash all around her — first one, then three, seven. Hundreds. Thousands. How will she find just one flash among them? And will he see her flash in return? In evocative photographs and l

70

Bugs A to Z

Caroline Lawton

4.1

An essential A to Z bug book for young readers.
The perfect book for all kids who are fascinated with bugs. Simple text from A to Z provides buggy facts and figures. Larger than life full-color photographs of creepy crawlies include locusts, caterpillars, beetles, flies, grasshoppers, ants, praying mantis, and more!

71

Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt

Kate Messner and Christopher Silas Neal

4.1

A companion to the new Over and Under the Pond and the beloved Over and Under the Snow, this sweet exploration of the hidden world and many lives of a garden through the course of a year "could not be more lovely," according to the Washington Post. Up in the garden, the world is full of green—leaves and sprouts, growing vegetables, ripening fruit. But down in the dirt there is a busy world of eart

72

Bring Me a Rock!

Daniel Miyares

4.0

From the author-illustrator of Pardon Me! and Float comes a funny and fun picture book about a little bug who proves that even the small can be mighty.

When a power-hungry grasshopper king wants a throne to loom over his bug subjects, he summons each of them to “bring me a rock!” One by one, the bugs bring him the biggest rocks they can carry, but one little bug can contribute only a very small peb

Cover unavailable

73

A Frog in the Bog

Karma Wilson and Joan Rankin

4.0

There's a frog on the log
in the middle of the bog.
A small, green frog
on a half-sunk log
in the middle of the bog....

Cover unavailable

74

Super Fly Guy (Fly Guy, #2)

Tedd Arnold

4.0

FLY GUY is off to school.
Will he make trouble?
Or will he save the day?

75

Two Bad Ants

Chris Van Allsburg

4.0

The three-time Caldecott medalist tells the tale of two ants who decide to leave the safety of the others to venture into a danger-laden kitchen.

76

Mr. Wuffles!

David Wiesner

4.0

In a near wordless masterpiece that could only have been devised by David Wiesner, a cat named Mr. Wuffles doesn't care about toy mice or toy goldfish. He’s much more interested in playing with a little spaceship full of actual aliens—but the ship wasn't designed for this kind of rough treatment. Between motion sickness and damaged equipment, the aliens are in deep trouble.When the space visitors

77

How to Teach a Slug to Read

Susan Pearson, David Slonim

4.0

A little boy explains to Mama Slug how to teach Little Slug to read. Here are a few of his reading rules: Attach labels to Little Slug’s favorite things; Read out loud to him; Point out words that repeat; Sound out words; Make a vocabulary list; Be patient! And, of course, it helps if Little Slug can see the book, so prop it up and set him on a rock! David Slonim’s hilarious acrylic and charcoal i

Cover unavailable

78

Bugs in My Hair!

David Shannon

4.0

Is something bugging you? Bestselling award-winner David Shannon shows the funny side of waging war against--oh no!--head lice.
This book is guaranteed to make you laugh--and itch! From the opening picture of a happy, oversized louse appearing with his suitcases, you know these bugs are determined to stay, and Mom is about to go nuts!

Nobody talks about them, but they are everywhere. (Some estimate

79

The Snail and the Whale

Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler

4.0

When a tiny snail meets a humpback whale, the two travel together to far-off lands. It's a dream come true for the snail, who has never left home before. But when the whale swims too close to shore, will the snail be able to save her new friend?

80

Hello, Bugs!

Smriti Prasadam

4.0

A charming introduction to 10 beautiful little bugs, featuring high contrast black-and-white patterns. A glittering burst of colored foil brings a vivid splash of color to every page.

81

Carl and the Meaning of Life

Deborah Freedman

4.0

A story about finding your place in the world.

Carl is an earthworm. He spends his days happily tunneling in the soil until a field mouse asks him a simple question that stops him short: "Why?" Carl's quest takes him on an adventure to meet all the animals of the forest, each of whom seems to know exactly what they were put on this earth to do, unlike the curious Carl. But it's not until the world

82

Bug Patrol

Denise Dowling Mortensen, Cece Bell

4.0

Wee-o! Wee-o! Wee-o! Woo! Bug Mobile coming through! Bugs are a misbehaving bunch, so Captain Bob, insect cop, has a busy beat. The beetles are using their bug mobiles like bumper cars, the roaches are protesting for better housing (down with roach motels!), and the crickets are up late, partying. Can Captain Bob keep the peace and maintain law and order? This enthusiastic, goofy-sweet read-aloud

83

Crickwing

Janell Cannon

4.0

Artistic flair and the spirit of cooperation save the day!
Crickwing never set out to be a bully. All he wants is to create his art in peace. But it's not easy being different--a cockroach with a cricked wing and a flair for sculpture is a ready target for the bigger creatures in the forest. Crickwing just wants to even the score, and leafcutter ants are so easy to pick on. ...
Big mistake. INobody/

84

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Fly Guy (Fly Guy, #4)

Tedd Arnold

4.0

The fourth book in a humorous, easy-to-read series about a boy and his pet fly! Each book in the series has a fun foil cover!

Buzz is visiting Grandma, and Fly Guy comes along for the ride. Oops! Grandma swallows Fly Guy, then a spider, then a bird, then a cat, then a dog. . . .

She's about to swallow a horse, when Fly Guy shouts: "BUZZZ!" Buzz is starting to worry, but there is nothing Fly Guy can'

85

Caterpillar Dreams

Clive McFarland

4.0

The book reveals what happens when a caterpillar who longs to fly tries to make his dream happen too quickly.

86

Bob and Otto

Robert O. Bruel, Nick Bruel

4.0

Bob and Otto do best-friend kinds of things together--eating leaves, digging, playing--until the day Bob decides to climb a tree, simply because . . . he has to. When the two meet again, Otto is still the same dirt-loving earthworm, but Bob has done the unthinkable: grown wings. Friendship overcomes all else in this sweet and funny story, because no matter what happens, ". . . friends are importan

87

It's an Orange Aardvark!

Michael Hall

4.0

Acclaimed New York Times-bestselling picture book creator Michael Hall delivers a funny and suspenseful story about colors, ants, aardvarks, and rainbows that will appeal to Lois Ehlert fans and fans of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle. Another winner from the author of My Heart Is Like a Zoo, Perfect Square, and Cat Tale!

Five carpenter ants at home in their tree stump hear a noise. What

88

The Napping House

Audrey Wood, Don Wood

4.0

Everyone knows the cumulative rhyme “This Is the House That Jack Built,” but The Napping House (1984) is close on its heels in the race for posterity: “And on that granny / there is a child / a dreaming child / on a snoring granny / on a cozy bed / in a napping house, / where everyone is sleeping.” Included in the napping house menagerie is a dozing dog, a snoozing cat, a slumbering mouse, and a w

89

Pocket Genius: Bugs

DK

4.0

Whether it's the industrious ant, the breathtaking Monarch butterfly, or the multi-legged centipede, children will discover the fastest, strongest, and most harmful species in Pocket Genius: Bugs. Profiling more than 200 insects and bugs, from beetles and butterflies to spiders and scorpions, find out what bugs eat, which are poisonous, which live the longest, and which can be found in your own ba

90

Cricket in the Thicket: Poems about Bugs

Carol Murray, Melissa Sweet

4.0

A nonfiction picture book of poetry about fascinating insects with accompanying facts, notes, and illustrations by the Caldecott-winning Melissa Sweet.

Pray tell us, Mr. Mantis,
Do you pray or simply prey?
Do you scout about for victims
Or fold your hands all day?

In addition to the playful rhyming poems, the supplementary text highlights surprising facts about bugs of all kinds--from familiar ants t

Cover unavailable

91

Little Kids First Big Book of Bugs (National Geographic Kids)

Catherine D. Hughes

4.0

The experts at National Geographic present a delightful reference that introduces young children to bugs of all kinds: big and small, jumping and crawling, colorful and creepy. This charming book explores backyard favorites, such as ladybugs and lightning bugs, and introduces kids to more exotic species that inhabit rain forests and deserts around the world. Colorful photos are paired with profile

92

The Bugliest Bug

Carol Diggory Shields, Scott Nash

4.0

A whirring, zinging, hopping-good show that will have kids itching for more!

All of insect land is abuzz with news of a big contest! The demure Damselfly Dilly - "neither clever nor frilly" - has no thoughts of winning, but she’s curious to find out who will. And what she sees makes her eyes bug out! Glowworms light up the stage, the audience hums with anticipation, and a panel of judges grins . .

93

The Bugs Sticker Activity Book

Yuval Zommer

4.0

Following the success of The Big Book of Bugs, here is an interactive book that brings the world of bugs to a child’s fingertips. The activities in the book invite children to draw, color, decorate, and place bugs in their natural habitats, encouraging children to engage with the information as they play.

Children are first introduced to Freddy the Fly (who many will remember from The Big Book of B

94

Pete the Cat and the Cool Caterpillar

James Dean

4.0

Pete the Cat meets a super-cool caterpillar in the first Pete the Cat Level 1 I Can Read tale from New York Times bestselling author-illustrator James Dean!

Pete thinks he found a new best friend. But when his caterpillar goes missing, Pete has to find out what happened to his new friend. Pete is in for one wild surprise at the end!

Pete the Cat and the Cool Caterpillar is a Level I Can Read book, c

95

Bugs by the Numbers

Sharon Werner, Sarah Forss

4.0

The creators of the award-winning Alphabeasties And Other Amazing Types capture an amazing array of insects in their totally unique and captivating style. While the alphabeasties were comprised of letters, these incredible insects are ingeniously engineered out of numerals. Each entry includes fascinating numeric facts about its subject: An ant has 2 stomachs and 3 body parts, and it can lift 50 t

96

The Icky Bug Counting Book

Jerry Pallotta and Ralph Masiello

4.0

For many children, "icky" bugs are endlessly fascinating. This book helps children discover why farmers like the praying mantis, how the water spider breathes underwater, and other intriguing facts about the world of bugs and insects.
Kids get a look at the fascinating world of insects while practicing their counting skills.

Cover unavailable

97

Jump!

Scott M. Fischer

4.0

When a bug sleeping on a jug is chased by a frog, he has to jump to get away. But then that frog (who’s sleeping on a log) is in for a similar surprise! He’s attacked by a cat…who needs to jump away from a dog…and on it goes, until not even a shark is free from getting a little fright! Building on repetition that’s fun to read and fun to listen to, Jump! is a rip-roaring, read-aloud with simple rh

98

The Very Clumsy Click Beetle

Eric Carle

4.0

When a little click beetle falls onto his back, he seeks the help of a wise old click beetle. "Look at me," says the more experienced click beetle, giving a loud CLICK and flipping onto its feet. But try as he might, the clumsy little click beetle just can't get the hang of it--or can he?

99

From Caterpillar to Butterfly

Deborah Heiligman, Bari Weissman

4.0

A caterpillar comes to school in a jar and the class watches the caterpillar each day as it grows and changes. Soon, it disappears into a hard shell called a chrysalis. Where did it go? This is a perfect beginner's guide to the mystery of metamorphosis.

Named as a NSTA/CBC Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children, this book explains the life cycle from caterpillar to butterfly with easy-to-foll

100

Bye-Bye, Big Bad Bullybug!

Ed Emberley

4.0

Here comes Big Bad Bullybug! He's big, mean, and scary--and loves to pick on little itty bitty bugs! With the turn of each die-cut page, Bullybug grows bigger, meaner, and scarier. But it's the itty bitty bugs who get the last laugh in this exciting, new, frighteningly-fun adventure.

Caldecott award-winning author-artist Ed Emberley, author of the enormously popular Go Away, Big Green Monster!, of