Burns, Loree Griffin  Beetle Busters: A Rogue Insect and the People Who Track It
Gr. 4–6, middle school     64 pp.   Houghton

Photographs by Ellen Harasimowicz. Scientists in the Field series. The Asian longhorned beetle (ALB), an invasive species, threatens "the entire northeastern hardwood forest." In Worcester, Massachusetts, scientists and residents hypothesize that destroying all of Worcester's infected trees — i.e., the ALB habitat — will eradicate the beetle. Clear photographs, charts, diagrams, and a straightforward text outline the problem, from the beetle's invasion to the trees' destruction and replanting. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind.
Subjects: Insects and Invertebrates; Animals—Beetles; Scientists; Forests and forestry; Habitats; Massachusetts

Carson, Mary Kay  How Strong Is an Ant?: And Other Questions About Bugs and Insects
Gr. K–3    32 pp.     Sterling

Good Question! series. Questions about insects are answered to highlight typical elements of insect biology such as physical structure and function, reproduction and life cycles, and species diversity. On each double-page spread readers can find a question, the answer, and a full-page illustration or photograph that brings various insects into close focus. Reading list, websites. Ind.
Subjects: Insects and Invertebrates; Questions and answers

Frisch, Aaron  Bees
Gr. K–3    24 pp.     Creative Education

Frisch, Aaron  Butterflies
Gr. K–3    24 pp.     Creative Education

Frisch, Aaron  Ladybugs
Gr. K–3    24 pp.     Creative Education

Seedlings series. These attractive books provide brief facts about their subjects, including their habitats, physical appearances, family relationships, diets, and behavior. Engaging, bright close-up photographs are prominently featured, and each book concludes with anatomically labeled photos of its respective insect. Spare, kid-friendly text with highlighted vocabulary words makes the information accessible to new nonfiction readers. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.
Subjects: Insects and invertebrates; Animals—Bees

Gravel, Elise  The Slug
Gr. K–3    32 pp.     Tundra

Disgusting Critters series. A smiling slug ("Yo!") welcomes readers in to this humorous science book. Accurate facts ("The slug is a mollusk, like the snail, but it doesn't have a shell") appear alongside smart-alecky commentary and silly cartoon illustrations: "Ha ha! You're naked!" taunts a snail to the blushing slug. A kid-friendly, giggle-inducing approach to information.
Subjects: Insects and invertebrates; Animals—Slugs; Animals—Mollusks

McGavin, George  Bugs: A Stunning Pop-Up Look at Insects, Spiders, and Other Creepy-Crawlies
Gr. 4–6     12 pp.     Candlewick

Illustrated by Jim Kay. Decidedly pro-bug ("the world would be a terrible place without them"), this particularly intricate (and delicate) pop-up book features impressive design and engineering. With finely detailed backgrounds, each of the five double-page spreads treats a subtopic such as "Where Bugs Live" with a large central pop-up bug; numerous foldouts, sliders, etc.; precise drawings; and uncondescending text (some in handwritten-looking cursive font).
Subjects: Insects and invertebrates; Toy and movable books

From the May 2015 issue of Nonfiction Notes from the Horn Book.