Pet Bugs

I am just thrilled! Recently I picked up this book from our library. No catchy cover, no color pictures and the copywrite is 1994. But none the less the title looked interesting enough for summer. Pet Bugs: A Kid's Guide to Catching and Keeping Touchable Insects by Sally Kneidel. We've looked at other similar books and this one is far superior. First of all, the introduction is riveting. Sally writes as if she were walking and talking beside you on a bug safari. Twenty six insects (a couple spiders and a couple segmented worms) are highlighted in this book. Each chapter has line drawings of the insect and then the following sections: What They Look Like, Where to Find Them, How to Catch Them, How to Keep Them and What They Act Like. Each section is so straightforward that even the youngest bug lover will feel smarter after hearing it read. And each section is so full of fun information that even the most squeemish will be tempted to turn over rotten logs. Lee (7) is so interested in hearing me read about the insects that we have read and reread almost every chapter. We did go on a search for a millipede; didn't have any luck finding one, but came home with a blue skink and saw ant egg sacks (an added bonus). We've been watching the house for a praying mantis and daddy longlegs. Seems like when you want one you can't find one and when you don't want to be startled by one you always are. This book is so fun and informative that I plan on buying a used copy soon.