Staff Picks
Bugging Out: Picture Books Featuring Insects and Other Creepy Crawlies
Collection
Love insects, arachnids, and other tiny friends? This list is for you!
If you are not a fan of these little creatures, check out some of these books to discover how cute they can be!
Worm Loves Worm
Published in 2016
Two worms in love decide to get married, and with help from Cricket, Beetle, Spider, and the Bees they have everything they need and more, but which one will be the bride and which the groom?
Give Bees a Chance
Published in 2017
"An enthusiastic bee-loving narrator tries to convince a bee-phobic friend that our fuzzy, flying neighbors are our friends--we should all give bees a chance!"-- Provided by publisher.
The Hugely-Wugely Spider
Published in 2018
The Hugely-Wugely spider tries to climb up the water spout like all the small spiders and, when he gets stuck, they help him out so when the rain comes, he tries to return the favor.
The Great Whipplethorp Bug Collection
Published in 2021
"Chuck Whipplethorp learns that he comes from a fascinating lineage of Whipplethorps, so he sets off to carve his own mark--by collecting bugs"-- Provided by publisher.
The Very Busy Spider
Published in 1984
The Very Quiet Cricket
Published in 1990
A very quiet cricket who wants to rub his wings together and make a sound as do so many other animals finally achieves his wish. The cricket's sound is reproduced at the end of the book.
What's Your Favorite Bug?
Published in 2018
Eric Carle and fourteen other beloved children's book artists illustrate their favorite bugs and explain why they love them. Everybody has a favorite bug. Some like shiny, colorful beetles or busy ants or soft pale moths best. Others prefer spindly walking sticks or fuzzy caterpillars that turn into bright butterflies. With beautiful illustrations and charming personal stories, 15 children's book artists share their favorite bugs and why they love them. Featuring words and pictures by: Eric Carle, Joey Chou, Eric Fan, Denise Fleming, Ekua Holmes, Tim Hopgood, Molly Idle, Beth Krommes, Scott Magoon, Kenard Pak, Maggie Rudy, Britta Teckentrup, Brendan Wenzel, Teagan White, and Eugene Yelchin.
Bee Dance
Published in 2015
"A honeybee searches for nectar, then returns to the hive to tell the other bees. She does a waggle dance, moving in a special figure-eight pattern to share the location of the foodsource with her hivemates. With vivid and active images, Rick Chrustowski brings these amazing bees to life!"-- Provided by publisher.
Firefly Home
Published in 2019
Fireflies are very special. They have a light inside them that shimmers and shines. But one little firefly is lost, and there are so many bright lights shining in the night sky she'll need some help to find her way back home.
Diary of a Spider
Published in 2005
A young spider discovers, day by day, that there is a lot to learn about being a spider, including how to spin webs and avoid vacuum cleaners.
Pete the Cat and the Itsy Bitsy Spider
Published in 2019
Presents an adaptation of the "Itsy Bitsy Spider," in which Pete and his friends know just how to help succeed.
Some Bugs
Published in 2014
From butterflies and moths to crickets and cicadas, a rhyming exploration of backyard-bug behavior.
Fly!
Published in 2015
"A young fly imitates his garden insect friends to try to figure out what he's best at"-- Provided by publisher.
It Fell from the Sky
Published in 2021
All the insects agree that the object that fell from the sky is a Wonder, but when Spider decides it is his, he risks losing all of his friends.
These Bees Count!
Published in 2012
Mr. Tate's class visits a bee and honey farm, where Farmer Ellen teaches the children how to listen to the bees talk.
Carl and the Meaning of Life
Published in 2019
When a field mouse asks Carl the earthworm why he tunnels through the dirt, Carl doesn't have an answer, so he sets off to find out.
Manuelo the Playing Mantis
Published in 2004
A praying mantis who longs to make music gets help from a spider named Debby Webster.
The Jazz Fly
Starring the Jazz Bugs, The Jazz Fly, Willie the Worm, Nancy the Gnat, Sammy the Centipede
Published in 2000
While seeking directions to town, a fly picks up the rhythm of the answers he gets from a frog, a hog, a donkey, and a dog, and then uses these sounds to jazz up his band's music.
The Last Peach
Published in 2019
Two indecisive bugs contemplate eating the last peach of the summer.
Be Nice to Spiders
Published in 1967
The Bug Collector
Published in 2020
George loves bugs. Big ones, leggy ones, ones that glow. So he decides to become the world's best collector. But fabulous creatures aren't meant for a life in a bottle.
Bee
A Peek-through Picture Book
Published in 2016
"Peek through the holes in this bright and lively book, and discover the bustling life of a bee. Children will love discovering the big ways this little insect contributes to the beauty of the environment, from pollinating colorful flowers to buzzing about the bright and beautiful meadow."--Page 4 of cover.
Flight of the Honey Bee
Published in 2013
Demonstrates how Scout the bee searches for nectar to sustain her hive and pollinates flowers to produce seeds and fruits.
Please Please the Bees
Published in 2017
Accustomed to the daily jars of honey provided by the bees living in his yard, Benedict the bear is upset when they go on strike, but he listens to their requests for better working conditions and makes an effort to please the unhappy bees.
Snail & Worm All Day
Published in 2019
Follows best friends Snail and Worm through three adventures involving how one defines a good day, an encounter with a dragon, and storytelling.
Snail & Worm
Three Stories About Two Friends
Published in 2016
Snail and Worm are best friends who support each other during a silly game of tag, through Snail's adventure up a flower stalk, and when Worm's pet goes missing.
Hank's Big Day
The Story of a Bug
Published in 2016
Hank is a pill bug whose daily routine involves nibbling a dead leaf, climbing up a long stick, avoiding a skateboarder, and playing pretend with his best friend, a human girl named Amelia.
A Spider Named Itsy
Published in 2023
"Everyone knows the rhyme "The Itsy Bitsy Spider." We know about the climb up the waterspout, the washout, the return of the sun, and the determined climb back up the spout-again. Generations of children have sung this beloved verse and mastered its accompanying twisty finger play. But what sent the tiny spider on his upward trek to begin with? What happened along the way-and where is Itsy now? Steve Light-with his meticulously rendered, highly detailed pen, ink, and watercolour illustrations and an endearing cast of insect characters-riffs on a classic as he offers some surprising answers, ushering us into a charming tale of perseverance, kindness, and community. And it all starts when a branch falls from a tree . . ."-- Provided by publisher.
Helpin' Bugs
Published in 1995
The Rescuer of Tiny Creatures
Published in 2021
" ... Roberta rescues tiny creatures. You know, the ones stranded in the middle of the sidewalk. A lot of the time, that earns her funny looks from kids in school. But when a swarm of baby spiders finds its way into the classroom, Roberta will save the day with her knowledge and creativity, showing everybody that tiny creatures aren't so scary after all. They just need friends who rescue and understand them!"-- Publisher's description.
Backyard Bugs
Published in 2017
Explores the types of bugs that can be found in everyday life, including ladybugs, spiders, grasshoppers, and crickets, and presents facts on each.-- Source other thant the Library of Congress.
Lola Meets the Bees
Published in 2024
Lola learns all about bees when she visits her mother's friend, Zora, who is a beekeeper.
Jam & Honey
Published in 2011
Tells the story of a young girl and a honeybee who learn to coexist peacefully in the same garden as they go about their respective tasks.
Bow-Wow Bugs a Bug
Published in 2007
A wordless picture book about a persistent terrier who spends a day following a bug through his neighborhood.
Twig
Published in 2018
Heidi, a tall, twig-like stick insect, does everything she can to make friends on her first day at Bug School, but even her teacher, Miss Orb, fails to notice her.
Unstinky
Published in 2018
"As a stinkbug Bud has problems: despite his best efforts he smells too sweet and flowery--but when April the bee invites him to her hive for a dance party he discovers his true talent."--Provied by publisher.
Frank the Seven-legged Spider
Published in 2017
Frank loves making beautiful webs, scaring humans, running, and scurrying but after waking up one morning missing a leg, he wonders if he still is a spider.
The Hotel for Bugs
Published in 2022
"A hilarious celebration of difference in inclusivity"--Page 1 of cover.
Escargot
Published in 2017
Escargot is a beautiful French snail who only wants to be your favorite animal and get to the delicious salad at the end of the book, even if he has to try a carrot, which he hates.
Bugs Galore
Published in 2012
Bugs of all shapes, colors, and sizes--including bed bugs, cute bugs, live bugs, and dead bugs--are presented in illustrations and rhyme.
I Love Bugs!
Published in 2005
A boy extols the various characteristics of insects, all of which he loves.
Grasshopper
Published in 2021
I Worked Hard on That!
Published in 2024
"An art-loving spider learns about the joys and challenges of creativity"-- Provided by publisher.
Natsumi's Song of Summer
Published in 2020
"This sweet and gentle picture book celebrates summer in Japan, as one little girl shares her love for insects with her cousin who is visiting from America."-- Provided by publisher.
One Mean Ant
Published in 2020
"Was there ever an ant as mean as this mean ant? Not likely. This ant is so mean that leaves fall off trees when he walks by. This ant is so mean that grapes shrivel when he looks at them. But when this mean ant finds himself lost in the desert and meets a fly that defies explanation . . . well, nothing is the same again. With this first in a planned trilogy, celebrated picture book creators Arthur Yorinks and Sergio Ruzzier team up for a hilariously slapstick tale that will make a raucous read-aloud for any storytime."--Provided by publisher.
One Mean Ant with Fly and Flea
Published in 2020
The mean ant and his companion, the fly, find themselves in a sticky situation.
Little Snail's Book of Bugs
Published in 2024
"Follow a baby snail on a slow and slimy trail around the garden to discover a world of insects"--Amazon.com.