How Strong is an Ant? And other questions about bugs and insects

We’re huge nature fans here in the C family – so much so that Mr C also runs UK Nature Blog when he has time – and we all enjoy getting outside as much as possible to see what we can spot. From a young age Little Miss C has been a big insect and bug fan and we’ve always encouraged her to see what she can spot in our own back garden. So being asked if we wanted to review How Strong Is an Ant? was a perfect opportunity to teach her a bit more about all the bugs and insects that she enjoys finding under stones and in the soil.

The Good Question! books, of which this is one, are a lovely series for children to help them answer all sorts of questions about science and nature. Each book is organised as a series of commonly asked questions and the answers seek to not only answer the question, but also explain a bit more about the topic as a whole.

With LMC only being 4 this was a book that either myself or Mr C had to sit down and read with her, but she was absolutely fascinated when we did. Some of the questions in there really made her think and it also tested her comprehension skills when I’d read a section to her and then go back to the question at the start and ask her it again. The illustrations are very detailed and also kept her attention well when I was reading quite lengthy bits of text to her.

The only downside that I can see to this book here in the UK, is that some of the terminology is quite American. Ladybirds are referred to as ladybugs and woodlice are pill bugs. This caused a bit on confusion to start with as LMC still struggles with the idea of people in different countries calling things different names. Older children would probably be able to cope with this concept better.

Overall though I was impressed with the detail in this book and the approach of organising all the information as responses to questions. I can definitely see this as being a book we go back to over the years, and a valuable addition to all our children’s nature books.

How Strong is an Ant? and other questions about… Bugs and Insects by Mary Kay Carson is part of the Good Question! series and published by Sterling Children’s Books. ISBN 9781454906858 Published in September 2014.

Disclaimer: We were sent a copy of How Strong is an Ant? And other questions about… Bugs and Insects for the purposes of this review. This post contains affiliate links.