Skip to main content Skip to search Skip to search

Children's Nonfiction Insects, Spiders, Etc.

Megabugs

And Other Prehistoric Critters That Roamed the Planet

by (author) Helaine Becker

illustrated by John Bindon

Publisher
Kids Can Press
Initial publish date
Oct 2019
Category
Insects, Spiders, etc., Dinosaurs & Prehistoric Creatures, Prehistoric
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9781771388115
    Publish Date
    Oct 2019
    List Price
    $18.99

Add it to your shelf

Where to buy it

Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels

  • Age: 8 to 12
  • Grade: 3 to 7
  • Reading age: 8 to 12

Description

Can you imagine a bug the size of a small crocodile? How about one bigger than a large basketball player? As scary as it may seem, supersized, insect-like critters such as these roamed Earth long before humans. In this peek into prehistory, award-winning science writer Helaine Becker introduces seven of these megabugs, the ancestors of modern-day insects, spiders, crabs and other arthropods, which lived from 480 million to 47 million years ago. The book explores when, where and how they each lived, why they grew so big and what caused their extinction. Highly realistic illustrations show each megabug in its habitat. The end of the book includes a few supersized critters that are still around today!

This book hits the sweet spot for the many young fans of dinosaurs, prehistoric life and insects of all kinds. Thoroughly reviewed by paleontological experts, the information is presented in an easy-to-digest format for a hi-lo audience (high interest, low reading level). Each spread features one animal and loads of visuals --- such as a size chart that shows how big the animal could grow, a timeline placing it in its geological period and a map of where its fossils have been discovered. Sidebars provide further context on such topics as adaptation, fossils and the Permian Extinction. Detailed illustrations by John Bindon are based on fossil evidence and were created in consultation with experts in the field. This book has terrific STEAM applications in earth science and life science. End matter includes a glossary, resources and an index.

About the authors

 

Helaine Becker
est l'auteure de nombreux livres jeunesse primés. Elle a écrit plus de 80
livres, dont Raconte-moi les graphiques : L'histoire de William Playfair et
l'album illustré à succès Un porc-épic dans un sapin. Helaine
habite à Toronto, en Ontario.

 

HELAINE BECKER is the author of numerous of books of fiction and non-fiction for children, among them the best-selling A Porcupine in a Pine Tree and its sequel, Dashing Through the Snow: A Canadian Jingle Bells, The Haunted House That Jack Built and Little Jack Horner, Live from the Corner. Her books have won the Silver Birch Award and the CBA Libris Award and have been shortlisted for the Red Cedar, the Hackmatack and the Rocky Mountain awards. Helaine lives in Toronto with her family. Visit her at www.helainebecker.com.

Helaine Becker's profile page

John Bindon specializes in illustrating prehistoric life. He has also worked on dinosaur exhibits for museums and theme parks and on animation projects for Discovery Television and Walt Disney Feature Animation. John is the illustrator of Monster Fliers. He lives near Toronto.

John Bindon's profile page

Awards

  • Short-listed, Red Cedar Award, BC Young Reader's Choice Awards
  • Unknown, OLA Best Bets, Ontario Library Association

Editorial Reviews

A book for all school and public libraries.

CM Magazine

Information is presented clearly and simply in this fascinating (and slightly creepy) exploration of mind-boggling prehistoric megabugs.

School Library Journal

Enticing fare for fans of all things Paleo.

Kirkus Reviews

Other titles by

Other titles by