Buzzing! Discover the poetry in garden minibeasts

Yes – a children’s fact book can be scientifically sound and lyrical too! Buzzing! combines quality information with witty poems and close-up photographs of exceptional beauty. In this case, truth is beauty as the poet says. Compact but content rich, this is an attractive and useful guide to all the insects and minibeasts likely to be found in the garden. There are eight chapters, each made up of eight double spreads. Each spread is devoted to a particular minibeast and organised systematically with: an information box setting out scientific name, family, class, and location; a ‘Factabulous’ section; a poem which reinforces aspects of appearance and behaviour; a fine close-up photograph. An important question to ask when considering a book like this is: how good are the devices to help identify the young reader’s finds? Useful here are the pages of small pictures at the beginning of each chapter flagging the minibeasts to follow. And the index, as well as listing specific names like Green Dock Beetle, Yellow Dung Fly and Mint Moth, gives page references for big categories like beetles, flies and moths. This is a book that encourages research and respect for these small creatures. With initial adult help for younger children, it is likely to be a favourite at home or at school and benefits from the availability of further material on a related website with a BugWatch page. I found this page lively and informative and likely to extend an interest sparked by the book.