A coterie of colorful creepy-crawlies awaits curious readers in the eye-catching, pro-insects nonfiction picture book Hello Bugs: A Little Guide to Nature by author/illustrator Nina Chakrabarti (Hello Fungi).
"Insects live all around us.... There is probably one near you... RIGHT NOW!" Chakrabarti's assertion nestles beneath a dragonfly's grassy perch alongside a living bridge of ants. The text gives overviews of scientific concepts in an approachable, informal tone, then zooms in to highlight specific species and categories. Insects of all shapes and shades stud the pages like jeweled brooches as the author walks readers through the criteria needed to achieve "true bug" status; shows the difference between simple and complete metamorphosis; and explains how to tell apart insect doppelgangers like bees and wasps or butterflies and moths. Weird and wondrous creatures featured also include bioluminescent insects and masters of camouflage. Readers interested in making their own observations can try tips for bug hunting or attract insects to their own yards or stoops with a homemade bug hotel. Less scientifically minded readers may appreciate the spread focusing on insects in folklore.
Chakrabarti's drawings strike a balance between realism and radiant whimsy. She captures the iridescence of dragonfly wings and the feathery softness of a moth's antennae with equal aplomb. Her survey of insects gives a wide assortment of fascinating facts to pique further curiosity. The result is perfect material for enticing young readers to go forth and seek their own multi-legged neighbors, with the caution not to disturb bugs as they lead "rich, extraordinary lives of their own." --Jaclyn Fulwood, youth services manager, Allen County Public Library