Little Snail's Book of Bugs
(Big Book: Littles)

Toddler-K--Despite a light fictional coating, this is terrific nonfiction for lapsitters. In scenes with the look of fine watercolors or vintage seed packets, but more dynamic, Little Snail explores. He glides away, giving lie to the idea that snails are slow--this is a quick tour. He spies the ladybugs fluttering over flowers, the honey bees buzzing around honeycombs, and checks out the flies at a picnic, before finding the ants on the march. Centipedes, crickets, spiders and more--this is a tour of bugs, done so beautifully that there is no ick factor, just appreciation for all the work that goes on in the garden. VERDICT A glorious way to introduce children to bugs; the renderings are realistic enough to teach and the facts each are solid.