Gail Hamilton (CM Magazine, October 12, 2007 (Vol. XIV, No. 4))
Insects are Earth's most common and successful animals with some 10 million million (yes, that's million million) of them living on this planet. Diane Swanson's appreciation for insects is evident on the pages of this book as she describes to young readers the various physical and behavioural adaptations which help insects to survive. Each of the first nine chapters focuses on an insect body part; the rest of the chapters cover such topics as signals, eggs, metamorphosis, colours, shapes, weapons, size and success. Within each chapter, Swanson provides several examples of insects whose specialized behaviours or body parts- legs, antennae, eyes, for instance- best demonstrate the topic. Pronunciation for terms such as proboscis, spiracles and metamorphosis is provided in parentheses. Written in fairly short sentences, the text is quite simple and easy to comprehend. A table of contents, a brief glossary and an index are included. Though the text is interesting and informative, the photographs really steal the show. Set in a lively, colourful and attractive layout, the photos give readers a fantastic close-up view of the featured insects. From the hundreds of thousands of lenses on the eyes of a gad fly to the veins on a katydid's wings, photographer Paul Davidson captures phenomenal images to enthrall readers. Tiny purple stink bug eggs look like round blueberries on a leaf, while an orange ball of pollen, about the size of a golf ball, is stuck on the leg hairs of a bee the size of a dinner plate. Guaranteed to delight readers, this book serves as a good introduction to the world of insects and the many reasons why bugs have survived for over 400 million years. Highly Recommended. Rating: **** /4. Grades 2-4. 2007, Kids Can Press, 40 pp., pbk. and hc., $8.95 (pbk.) and $18.95 (hc.). Ages 7 to 9.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, September 15, 2007 (Vol. 75, No. 18))
Up Close" is right: Davidson's oversized, sharply focused color photos reveal every joint, palp, wing, eye facet and wrinkle on a succession of common insects, from a seemingly puppy-sized blowfly to an earwig blown up to the dimensions of a sausage. All of his subjects were shot live, in natural settings, often turned toward the camera and in lighting that brings out every detail. Swanson contributes standard but accurate descriptions of insect body parts, life stages, signals, weapons and defenses. Budding bug lovers will stridulate with delight. (glossary, index) 2007, Kids Can, 40p, $16.95. Category: Nonfiction. Ages 7 to 9. © 2007 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Anne Hanson (Library Media Connection, November/December 2007)
This book is serious about the "up close" of the title. It's a large format book with huge photos of the covered insects. The tiny blowfly is shown at 12 inches. The photos will appeal for a variety of reasons: the yuck factor of the blowfly, the fantastic anthropomorphic character of the praying mantis, the frightful appearance of the dragonfly, and the camouflaged beauty of the katydid will appeal to kids and adults. There's lots of information here as well. It's organized into areas such as insects, spiracles, mouthparts, signals, metamorphosis, shapes, and weapons, each on a two page spread including the enormous photo, several smaller photos, text, and a quick fact devoted to each topic. There are many uses for insect legs aside from locomotion: seizing prey, tasting, digging, gripping, and jumping. Who knew? Bugs fill important niches in our world. They pollinate plants, provide food, prey on other pest insects, get rid of dead animals and wastes, and enrich soil. We need them and you need this book. Glossary. Index. Highly Recommended. 2007, Kids Can Press, 40pp., $16.95 hc. Ages 7 to 11.

Kimberly Elpers (National Science Teachers Association (NSTA))
Bugs "say cheese" in this book with high-quality graphics. Normally the important features teachers would like children to experience aren't easily seen. But in this book, through the super-sized photos, children can use their sense of sight to get up close and personal with arthropods. Every page of Bugs Up Close has outstanding, eye-catching, large photographs of common North American insects. The book highlights many physical features of insects, such as spiracles, legs, wings, mouthparts, eyes, antennae, and hair. Children can easily understand the features that make an insect special as they gaze at the photos. They will find a fly magnified to the size of a man's shoe! In addition to having excellent photographs, the book concisely explains the insects' physical features. Pages include a "Buggy Bit" that gives an intriguing fact about the featured insect. The book includes information on signals, colors, shapes, weapons, and size that help to protect bugs. The concept of metamorphosis is included with superbly detailed photos of a mosquito. Teachers should note, however, that the book uses the vernacular term "bug" to include all insects, rather than the technical meaning, which is limited to the order Hemiptera. I can't wait to use this book with my children in a whole-group setting. Bugs Up Close includes a glossary and an index for quick reference. The book is for elementary students in grades 2-5. This sturdy hardcover book will be a great addition to your science classroom or a popular book for the media center. Grades 1-4. 2007, Kids Can Press, 40p, $16.95. Ages 6 to 10.

Kelley McGuire (Resource Links, December 2007 (Vol. 13, No. 2))
Wow! These phenomenal photographs allow you to get up-close and personal with various insects. The magnified images show intricate details like pollen particles on a wasp’s torso. Accompanying captions identify each picture. It is these colorful and amazing pictures that will draw in viewers enticed to read on and discover more. The text features of this book support the reader and can be taught as elements of non-fiction as lessons in themselves. The contents section is set up so that each section discusses one single feature common to many insects (example: Spiracles) and highlights how some insects have adaptations specific to their environment or food source. Each chapter is presented as a two-page spread with one to three photos per chapter. The informational text is detailed with references made to familiar North American insects such as mosquitoes, but is not overwhelming. Lots of cool and amazing facts add interest for young readers. The text uses pronunciation guides for tricky words like ‘proboscis’ as well as giving simple explanations for terms like ‘molts’. The ‘Buggy Bit’ information bubble (text box) on each two-page spread offers an interesting factual tidbit related to each photo and chapter. The glossary defines 11 terms to assist readers while the index lists dozens of insects included in the book distinguishing photos of these bugs with emboldened page numbers. Category: Non-Fiction Grades K-6. Thematic Links: Life Science - Insects; Species Adaptions; Features of Non-fiction Text. Resource Links Rating: E (Excellent, enduring, everyone should see it!), Gr. 1-6. 2007, Kids Can Press, 40p., Hdbk., $18.95. Ages 6 to 12.

Erika Iyengar (Science Books and Films (Vol. 44, No. 6))
This paperback book has lovely, crisp close-up pictures of a nice variety of insects. Most of the major topics associated with insects, including warning coloration and camouflage as well as basic anatomy, are covered in simple prose that conveys amazement for the adaptations. There are nice “Buggy Bit” colored bubbles highlighting relevant particular factoids, and each image is clearly labeled with the name of the insect pictured. However, schematic diagrams and arrows indicating the structures discussed are largely absent. For instance, the author states that spiracles are on the thorax and abdomen, but no spiracles are obvious in the accompanying picture. Most students and parents will be frustrated as they search the images, unsure as to what they are supposed to be seeing. Diagrams highlighting exactly what the author is discussing would have been helpful and have added tremendously to the educational value of the volume. The scientific content of this book is covered at a basic level. For example, the fact that molting is required as the insect grows is reported, and so is the variation in number of molts per lifetime. However, specifically which insects molt only a few times versus many is not discussed. Further, no details about the actual process of molting are described, including the length of time the new exoskeleton is soft or that many insects, especially young ones, molt unsuccessfully. Inquisitive children thrive on such specifics. Thus, the lovely pictures and the interesting information make this book a fun read, but kids who have never thought much about insects before will need structures pointed out to them, and budding entomologists will need a companion book with more specifics. Glossary; Index; C.I.P. Acceptable, Grades 3-6. 2008, Kids Can Press, 40pp., $8.95. Ages 8 to 12.

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, Spring 2008)
Eighteen double-page spreads help readers explore what makes an insect an insect. Body parts such as exoskeletons and spiracles are described in kid-friendly scientific language. Survival strategies from camouflage to "weaponry" are also covered. Large, bright, zoomed-in photos let readers see the creatures in uncommonly close detail. "Buggy Bit" text bubbles offer unusual facts ("grasshopper songs have different beats"). Glos., ind. Category: Nonfiction-Science. 2007, Kids Can, 40pp, 16.95, 8.95. Ages 9 to 12. Rating: 3: Recommended, satisfactory in style, content, and/or illustration.