Busy Bugs: A book about Patterns (Puffin Young Readers – Level 1)

Text: Jayne Harvey

Illustrations: Bernard Adnet

Year: 2003

Publisher: Puffin Young Readers, New York

Age: 3 and above

No. of Pages: 32

ISBN:  978 0 44845 816 8

The book cover calls it a ‘book about patterns’ and it is. The text showcases all the pretty patterns in nature – butterfly wings, the dots on a ladybird, spider webs, fireflies and more.

All of these facts are woven into a lyrical text that intertwines numbers and colors to spin a tale of fantasy and sheer natural beauty.

Excerpt

Here are eight bugs who like to sing.

They all line up from wing to wing.

One moth, one flea, one fly, one bee.




Other titles in this series

• Level - 1: A new friend
• Level - 1: At the beach 
• Level - 1: Ice Cream Soup
• Level - 1: Max has a Fish, Review here
• Level - 1: Nicky Upstairs and Down 
• Level - 1: Play with Blue
• Level - 1: Tiny goes camping 
• Level - 1: Tiny the Birthday Dog 
• Level - 1: Tiny the Snow Dog 

• Level - 2: Cowboy Roy, Review here
• Level - 2: Madeline and her dog, Review here
• Level - 2: Princess Buttercup, Review here
• Level - 2: Red, White and Blue
• Level - 2: Shape Spotters, Review here 
• Level - 2: Snug Bug, Review here
• Level - 2: Spider's Lunch, Review here
• Level - 2: The Cow in the House, Review here
• Level - 2: The Garden that we grew  
• Level - 2: Who stole the cookies?, Review here

• Level - 3: Agapanthus Hum and the Eyeglasses
• Level - 3: Amanda Pig on her own
• Level - 3: Why do birds sing?

Spider’s Lunch – All About Garden Spiders – Puffin Young Readers – Level 2

Author: Joanna Cole

Illustrator: Ron Broda

Year: 1995

Publisher: Puffin Young Readers, USA

Age: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 32

ISBN: 978-0-44845-797-0

Here’s a delightful nature book for early readers.

Garden spiders are familiar representatives of the animal world but their life-cycle is quite intriguing. This nature book offers interesting insights with friendly illustrations and easy words to appeal to little ones. 

Excerpt

The spider is not that hungry now.

She does not want to eat the wasp.

She walks out on the web.

She cuts the web around the wasp.

It flies away.

Your Emotions: I feel frightened

Text: Brian Moses, Wikipedia

Illustration: Mike Gordon

Year: 1993

Publisher: Hodder Wayland, London

Age: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 32

ISBN: 978 0 75021 404 9

The Your Emotions series is a fantastic idea to help not just children but parents and teachers to navigate this tricky zone in little ones' lives.

The I Feel Frightened book doesn't brush away fears as most adults are inclined to do but helps the child come to terms with the ever-present reality of emotions and offers helpful suggestions too. The book deals with fear of the dark, bugs, strange noises, first day at school and more. The  witty text and peppy illustrations offset the somber subject of the book.

What I liked best about this book? It actually acknowledges that grown-ups feel fear too!

This book is a must-have for any children’s library.

Other titles in this series:

• I feel angry
• I feel jealous, Review here
• I feel sad

Excerpt

I’m frightened when I think there are spiders under my bed.

But any spider I find is much more frightened of me.

I like to play hide and seek!

And even though I’m frightened when dad makes me jump, I still want to play it again!