Bugs in Danger: Our Vanishing Bees, Butterflies, and Beetles

by Mark Kurlansky, Jia Liu (Illustrator)

Overview

By now you've probably heard that bees are disappearing—but they aren't the only species at risk. Populations of fireflies, butterflies, and ladybugs have all been declining in recent years, too. This middle grade nonfiction explains the growth, spread, and recent declines of each of these four types of insects. Exploring human causes, like the Baltimore electric company that collected fireflies to attempt to harness their phosphorescent lighting source, to natural occurrences, like the mysterious colony collapse disorder that plagues bee populations, master nonfiction storyteller Mark Kurlansky shows just how much bugs matter to our world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781547600854
Publisher:	Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:	11/12/2019
Pages:	176
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.90(d)
Lexile:	1060L (what's this?)
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

Mark Kurlansky is the New York Times bestselling author of more than 30 books, including A World Without Fish for young readers and Milk, Salt, and Cod for adults. He has received the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, Bon Appetit's Food Writer of the Year Award, the James Beard Award, and the Glenfiddich Award. He lives in New York City. www.markkurlansky.com

Hometown:

New York, NY

Date of Birth:

December 7, 1948

Place of Birth:

Hartford, CT

Education:

Butler University, B.A. in Theater, 1970

Editorial Reviews

11/01/2019

Gr 5–8—Pollination by insects is necessary for the continued existence of some 90 common foods, including apples, tomatoes, barley, and almonds, as well as cotton, in addition to alfalfa for feeding dairy cows. But insect populations all over the world are increasingly threatened by human activity, including the destruction of habitats and the use of pesticides. Kurlansky peppers his text with intriguing facts: There are nearly as many species of ladybugs as mammals, and monarch butterflies have magnetite in their bodies, which allows them to navigate as if they had compasses. His themes are anchored in Charles Darwin's pioneering 19th-century research, as well as contemporary science. Sidebar texts elaborate on tangentially related topics, such as the huge variety of bee species or bioluminescence. Chapters include an introductory overview of the insect world, followed by separate sections covering the basic habits of and the threats faced by bees, beetles, and butterflies and the threats they face and a conclusion. One of the final chapters includes a bulleted list of ways readers can help insects. Liu's simple line drawings are occasionally illustrative but often add little to the text. The bibliography features many books about environmental science and evolutionary biology, though only one website is noted. VERDICT The narrative is engaging and the topic is critical but may lack universal appeal. Recommended for larger collections, especially where science-based activism is a focus.—Bob Hassett, Luther Jackson Middle School, Falls Church, VA

School Library Journal

2019-08-12
"The disappearance of a few prominent insects could lead to the complete unraveling of life on Earth."

This is only one of the dire warnings that punctuate several chapters in a text that is accessible, informational, and often humorous. Using Darwin's theories and the assumption that every species must prioritize its own promulgation or perish, the author suggests, among other things, that humans may have created their own decline by emphasizing individual life choices over species survival. He emphasizes biodiversity as the key to preserving life as we know it, employing the historical decline of ladybugs, bees, butterflies, and fireflies to fuel that argument. The text—original for young readers and not adapted from a book for adults—has fascinating details, both historical and biological, but sometimes omits expected depth. After pages devoted to monarchs, it does not mention the fact that the migration spans generations. After a lengthy discussion of colony collapse disorder, only one paragraph mentions the fact that, apparently, no organic beekeepers have experienced it. Another example is the lackluster list in the "What Can I Do?" chapter, which does not match the urgency of sentences such as the one quoted above. Indeed, the first idea on the list is a condescending plea not to stomp on insects. As an entomological reference book or to start conversations about biodiversity or climate change, the book is solid; it is not advisable as a single source. Happily, there is an extensive bibliography.

A conversation starter. (endnotes, bibliography, index) (Nonfiction. 10-14)

Kirkus Reviews

In his histories of cod and oysters, Mark Kurlansky described how those species once thrived in the wild, and how they were depleted. [World Without Fish] casts an even wider net and...creates a compelling narrative for young people.” —The New York Times

“Urgent” —Publishers Weekly

“An important and timely resource full of fascinating facts.” —Booklist

“Accessible, informational, and often humorous.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Fascinating title.” —School Library Connection

“An informative discussion of evolutionary biology and ecology” —Horn Book Magazine

From the Publisher