We learned so many amazing facts about weird insects this month, and here are some of my favorite books from our weird insect theme. Our focus this month was on non-fiction books about insects in general and especially about weird insects.
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Just choose books based on your child’s age and what you think will engage your child’s interest. I recommend checking out the “Look Inside the Book” feature on Amazon and reading reviews there. Another place to learn about a book is on YouTube. You can typically see the entire book there. If you live outside the U.S., be sure to check out Book Depository for great prices and free worldwide delivery.
Montessori-friendly books use photos or realistic illustrations. They don’t have talking animals or a lot of fantasy. But many books that have fantasy and talking animals are wonderful books, and I love sharing them with children who understand the difference between fantasy and reality.
I usually have a majority of Montessori-friendly books for a theme, but I include a variety of books that might not be Montessori-style books but that are simply lots of fun or are classic books that I consider an important part of cultural literacy. For toddlers and preschoolers, about ¾ of the books I use are typically Montessori friendly.
Favorite Books for a Weird Insect Theme
I’m featuring books here that are about bugs and insects, a few weird insect books, and a few books about entomologists.
Books for a Weird Insect Theme
Forward-Facing Book Display (similar style)
Insect Books (or General Reference Books with Good Information About Insects) We’re Using:
Top Shelf of Forward -Facing Display:
- Big Book of Bugs
- Ultimate Bugopedia: The Most Complete Bug Reference Ever
- Bugs Up Close: A Magnified Look at the Incredible World of Insects
2nd Shelf:
- DK Smithsonian Everything You Need to Know About Bugs
- National Geographic Kids Little Kids First Big Book of Bugs
- Bugs A to Z
3rd Shelf:
- National Geographic Kids Insects
- What’s Your Favorite Bug? by Eric Carle and Friends
- Amazing, Crazy and Weird Bugs and Insects
4th Shelf:
- Buzzing with Questions: The Inquisitive Mind of Charles Henry Turner
- Evelyn the Adventurous Entemologist: The True Story of a World-Traveling Bug Hunter
- The Bug Girl: A True Story
Bottom Shelf
- Incredible Insects (This series (I have the whole set) is great for young readers and preschoolers who are learning about animal classifications!)
- Weird Insects
- Hercules Beetle
More Books from our Unit That Aren’t on the Forward-Facing Book Display
- Tree of Life: The Incredible Biodiversity of Life on Earth (I like to have this book out at the beginning of a plant or animal unit to show where the plant or animal fits into the tree of life.)
- First Animal Encyclopedia: A First Reference Guide to the Animals of the World (I always like to have books available that help children see where the animal we’re studying fits into the animal kingdom.)
- The Animal Book: A Visual Encyclopedia of Life on Earth (includes great information about insects)
- You Can Be an Entemologist!
You can also see lots of weird insect books as they’re published here.
More Weird Insect Resources
Free Weird Insect Printables and Montessori-Inspired Weird Insect Activities
Montessori-Inspired Weird Insect Pack for DIY Cards and Counters, Number or Letter Matching, Number or Letter Basket, Bead Bar Work, Hands-on Math Operations, Number or Letter Salt/Sand Writing Tray, Letter Tracing, DIY Movable Alphabet, and Creative Writing (subscriber freebie, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password – or check your inbox if you’re already a subscriber).
More Insect Resources
There are Montessori-inspired insect packs for butterflies, ants, bees, ladybugs, and noisy insects (subscriber freebies, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password – or check your inbox if you’re already a subscriber).
Free Noisy Insect Printables and Montessori-Inspired Noisy Insect Activities
- Free Cricket and Cicada Do-a-Dot Printables (Montessori-Inspired Phonics Instant Download)
- Free Noisy Insect Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Bee Printables and Montessori-Inspired Bee Activities
- Free Honeybee Do-a-Dot Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Honeybee Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Montessori-Inspired Insect Unit
- Free Insect Songs, Sounds, and Rhymes for Circle Time
- Free Ladybug Printables and Montessori-Inspired Ladybug Activities
- Montessori-Inspired Caterpillar-Butterfly Unit
- Montessori-Inspired Life Cycle Activities
- Free Butterfly Printables and Montessori-Inspired Butterfly Activities
- Free Butterfly Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Butterfly Sensory Bin with Scavenger Hunt and Life Cycle Activities {Free Printables}
- Montessori-Inspired Spring Activities with Spielgaben {Free Printables}
- Free Butterfly Do-a-Dot Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Ant Printables and Montessori-Inspired Ant Activities
- Free Ant Do-a-Dot Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download
- Free Ant Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Ant Sensory Bin with Scavenger Hunt and Life Cycle Activities
- The Best Ant Books for Kids
- Ants on a Log Fun Food Preparation for Preschoolers
- Free Invertebrate Cards and Presentations, Including Bug Activities from KHT Montessori
- Free Bee Printables and Montessori-Inspired Bee Activities
- The Best Bee Books for Kids
- Free Honeybee Do-a-Dot Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Honeybee Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Montessori-Inspired Ladybug Unit with Free Printables and Activities
- The Best Ladybug Books for Kids
- Free Ladybug Do-a-Dot Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Ladybug Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Ladybug Life Cycle – The Joy of Growing Ladybug
- Insect Unit Study Pinterest Board
Helpful Animal Classification Posts
- Living and Non-Living
- Plant and Animal Sorting
- Montessori Animal Classification
- Free Zoo Printables and Montessori-Inspired Zoo Activities
- Montessori-Inspired Animal Units
Learn more about my eBook Montessori at Home or School: How to. Teach Grace and Courtesy!
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