The Best Insect Books for Kids
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As a boy mom, I’ve learned to appreciate weird and wonderful creatures through the eyes of my kids. Any time an unusual bug shows itself, one of my boys is bound to notice it, and we are soon heading to our field guides to learn more. With the hot weather of summer, it seems like we are seeing insects everywhere. We’ve also had our fair share of insect experiences when we ‘hatched’ caterpillars and watched them eventually transform into painted lady butterflies, and when we kept a cage of tiny crickets on hand as lizard food for our anoles.
Whether you love or despise bugs, they are really fascinating, and observing them is a fun way to incorporate science learning into your kids’ lives through nature study. Teaching kids to look and not squash tiny critters helps them learn to respect and appreciate all living things.
We are sharing our favorite insect books for kids below. If you have anything to add to our list, let us know in the comments. While you’re here, we look forward to seeing your blog posts in the link up.
Happy Reading!
Our Favorite Insects Books for Kids
- The Grouchy Ladybug
- Insect Detective: Read and Wonder
- Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices
- The Very Quiet Cricket Board Book
- Waiting for Wings
- Small Wonders: Jean-Henri Fabre and His World of Insects
- A Fly Went by (Beginner Books)
- I Like Bugs (Step-Into-Reading, Step 1)
- Hey, Little Ant
- Fireflies
- Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears: A West African Tale
- Diary of a Fly
- Ten Little Ladybugs
- Caterpillars, Bugs and Butterflies: Take-Along Guide (Take Along Guides)
- Bugs Big & Small God Made Them All
- James and the Giant Peach
- The Cricket in Times Square (Chester Cricket and His Friends)
- National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Insects and Spiders (National Audubon Society Field Guides (Paperback))
- National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Insects and Spiders & Related Species of North America
- Insects Coloring Book (Dover Nature Coloring Book)
- Learning About Insects (Dover Little Activity Books)
And now for the link up!
Our hosts will still share a themed selection of our favorite books each week.
If you’d like to join us as a co-host for What to Read Wednesday, please contact Anne.
This list has our book themes for 2016, but you don’t have to stick to that to link up–any family-friendly posts are welcome. So, come on! Join in the fun!

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I love Eric Carle’s Bug Books about hungry caterpillars and firefiles. You’ve made some fantastic recommendations here! Thanks!
We love Eric Carle books!
We’re crazy about insects here! The other day my daughter requested a very interesting bedtime story; she wanted me to read a ladybug article out of Organic Gardening magazine — ha ha ha!
Adorable!