Review: Insectlopedia by Douglas Florian

Insectlopedia by Douglas Florian

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Florian, Douglas. 1998. Insectlopedia. New York: Harcourt Brace & Company. ISBN 9780152013066

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Insectlopedia is a delightful book of 21 poems with accompanying paintings about a variety of insects. The poems are deceptively simple, but upon multiple readings, they are rather enchanting descriptions of many common bugs. Each poem includes a brightly painted illustration of the insect by the author.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Florian writes his poems in a sing-song type of rhyme that matches each poem subject perfectly. The language in the poems is so playful; it makes even the most disgusting insects (weevils, termites, ticks) appear adorable. Some of the verses are arranged in a standard traditional format, while in other poems the font moves in conjunction in the subject of the poem. For example, “The inchworm” poem arches just as a worm would as he is moving along. The text for “The Whirligig Beetles” is arranged in a circular shape, the way the beetles twirl. On some poems, Florian bolds a word to emphasize when he is creating a pun. For example, “The Praying Mantis”:

Upon a twig

I sit and pray

For something big

To wend my way:

A caterpillar,

Moth,

Or bee –

I swallow them

Religiously.  (p. 17).

The illustrations painted by Florian are warm and friendly. They were created with watercolors on plain brown paper bags and with the use of collages.  At first glance, the illustrations appear as though they were created by children, with many of the insects smiling broadly or engaging in other human-like activities such as the caterpillar wearing a hat, the praying mantis reading, and the giant water bug reading a Father’s Day card. While not perfect, the illustrations should appeal to a younger audience.

In general, Insectlopedia would be great for elementary aged children who enjoy insects, and wish to learn more facts about them.

4. AWARDS & REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee 1999-2000

Beehive Children’s Poetry Book Award 2002

Positive review in Publisher’s Weekly: “The silly, imaginative verses about whirligig beetles and waterbugs (almost) match the exquisite pictures in playfulness and wit. The result is downright stunning.”

Positive review in Kirkus: “Read alone or read aloud, each of these ticklish tidbits features an individual member of the insect world, and focuses on attributes, foibles, and antics displayed in the eight-legged community.”

5. CONNECTIONS
*Have children choose one of the 21 poems about insects to read, and illustrate it themselves using Florian’s technique of watercolors and collage on brown paper bags.

* Use specific poems to enhance learning about insects in a science class.

*Other poetry books by Douglas Florian:

UnBEElieveables: Honeybee Poems and Paintings. ISBN 9781442426528

Lizards, Frogs, and Polliwogs. ISBN 9780152052485

Beast Feast: Poems. ISBN 9780152017378