Smithsonian Handbooks: Insects (Smithsonian Handbooks)

A very engaged little 4-year-old

I purchased this book as part of a "bug box" for my 4-year-old great-nephew's birthday. (Also included in the box were a folding, laminated "brochure" of insect images and a magnifying glass.) It was one of several presents from me, but it was the one that was a hit. He already has the same format DK book of dinosaurs and loves it, so I knew he would be comfortable with this book, even though it's not designed for pre-schoolers. He wanted to sit down and read the book as soon as he saw it and didn't care about opening the other gifts. We took the book, brochure, and magnifying glass to dinner, during which he used the glass to examine the books, and his spaghetti, at the table. He carried the glass the rest of the night, even while playing with other toys with his cousins. The next morning I received an email from his mother with a picture of him, with the glass, intently studying the books amid a pile of toys he was ignoring; they were heading out to take a walk to look for bugs. This is an observant, detail-oriented child who loves to sort and categorize things; I know this book will engage him for quite a while and serve as a useful reference for many years to come. As with all DK books, the illustrations are extremely clear and detailed and the treatment of the subject is comprehensive. The book is sturdy, a good size for little hands, and compact enough to be taken on outings. I thought that a paperback book would be hard for him to hold since it doesn't fold flat, but he's so riveted by it, it's not a problem. This book + $9 magnifying glass = birthday fun! Highly recommend if you have a little scientist on your hands. Read more