Bugs

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As we march into springtime, lots of wonderful things happen. Snow melts, the temperature warms up, and everyone can have a lot of fun playing outside.

When you’re outside, you’ll come across insects. Or bugs. Or even creepy crawlies.

But even though some bugs look a bit weird, they’re really important to help keep nature in balance. And there’s a web site devoted to bugs and helping you learn about them.

Harry’s Big Adventure is hosted by Harry, a Chinese praying mantis from Memphis, Tennessee, who travels around the country meeting and learning about other insects. Harry and his friends (Woody the termite, Speedy the millipede, Skimmer the dragonfly, Miley the monarch butterfly, and a whole lot of others) also have games that you can play, coloring pages that you can download and print, and a Bugopedia that’s full of insect facts and photos and even videos.

Did you know that a praying mantis has five eyes? Or that fire ants can build mounds up to two feet tall? Or that honey bees help to grow the food that humans eat? Those are just some of the facts that Harry can help you find.

And when you want to learn even more about bugs, head to your public or school library. The librarians there can help you find great books and web sites on any subject you like. Try these books to start:

Bugs and Spiders
by Jan Stradling
Huge portraits highlight descriptions of insects and spiders, and some see-through pages help to show off specific details.

The Ant’s Nest: A Huge, Underground City
by Miriam Aronin
Get a glimpse of the amazing work that ants do underground, showcased in close-up photos like a worker ant moving a seed as big as itself or a queen carrying nine tiny eggs in her mouth.

Nic Bishop Butterflies and Moths

Nic Bishop Spiders
by Nic Bishop
Bishop’s stunning photos illustrate his subject’s habits, habitats, and life cycles.