Do your kids love bugs? Are they fascinated by creepy crawlies? picture books about bugs and insects are perfect for capturing and holding your children’s interest at home or in the classroom. This book list features 40 of my favorite books on a bug and insect theme that will inform and entertain your little entomologists.
You are reading: Books on bugs for preschoolers
books about bugs and insects for preschool and preschool children
I love bugs! by philomen sturges the reader is invited to explore the amazing world of bugs! from hungry caterpillars to busy ants and graceful dragonflies; which one is your favourite?
Hank’s Big Day, by Evan Kuhlman A pill bug with a busy life forms an unusual friendship with a little girl in this delightfully charming picture book, perfect for reading aloud to your little learners.
Beetle Bop, by Denise Fleming Your kids will love the sing song rhymes and illustrations about creepy crawly beetles in this book from popular children’s author Denise Fleming.
The Life of a Ladybug by John Himmelman Beautiful watercolor illustrations teach readers about the life cycle of ladybugs and how their diet helps save important plants.
Are You a Grasshopper? by Judy Allen
books about bees
Give Bees a Chance by Bethany Barton, another good option to help young children understand that they shouldn’t be afraid of bees.
Bee: A Peek-Through Picture Book, by Britta Teckentrup An inviting and age-appropriate lesson about the big ways a tiny insect can benefit the environment. Your little learners will be both thrilled and delighted by the vibrant multimedia collages in this lively peek-a-boo picture book. This book is one of my favorites books about bugs and insects, I’m completely smitten and so are my students!
the bee by kirsten hall, vibrant rhyming verses and stunningly beautiful illustrations make this the perfect choice to read aloud in any early childhood classroom.
The Beeman, by Laurie Krebs This award-winning rhyming book even has a fun recipe at the end, a must-read for your budding little beekeepers!
the bee and I, by elle j. McGuinness readers will be able to relate to the boy in the story and his fear of bees, but luckily, the bee that accidentally got stuck in the boy’s room explains just how important bees are to our world.
Buzzy the Bumblebee, by Denise Brennan-Nelson A precious little picture book that will encourage young children to overcome their fear of bees.
In the Trees, Honey Bees, by Lori Mortensen The perfect book to introduce preschoolers to insects and how important they are to our world.
Kaia and the Bees by Maribeth Boelts All children can relate to Kaia and her fear of bees. but her dad, the beekeeper, helps her understand why the world needs bees.
books about ants
See Also: Jennifer Probst – Book Series In Order
are you an ant? by judy allen children will explore ants and how they live and work, while comparing how they are different from us.
hey, little ant, by phillip m. choose a fun little book that teaches readers the need to show kindness and respect to others, both animals and humans.
Ants, by Melissa Stewart Learn all about ants and how they impact our world in this age-appropriate nonfiction book.
the ants are marching, from dan crisp your children will love looking for little ants and counting the ants on the pages. there are so many ways for children to interact and play while reading.
books about butterflies
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle What list of insect books would be complete without The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle? “In the light of the moon, a small egg was laid on a leaf.” Thus begins Carle’s story of the metamorphosis of the butterfly that has captivated generations of children around the world.
A Butterfly is Patient by Dianna Hutts Aston, a beautifully illustrated and informative introduction to the world of butterflies. of particular note is the language used in the book, each page featuring “a butterfly is…” followed by a descriptive adjective. This book provides many opportunities to develop small vocabularies. It’s also perfect for creating a class book: ask each child to fill in the blank at the end with their own words to build vocabulary.
Mighty Wings, by Debbie Clement and Sarah Joy
Are You a Butterfly? by Judy Allen, the charming illustrations in this fact-filled book will introduce your young learners to butterflies and their life cycle.
from caterpillar to butterfly, by laura marsh you can’t go wrong with the kids at national geographic! Your little ones will enjoy the real-life photos of butterflies while learning about their life cycle.
waiting for wings, by lois ehlert every spring, butterflies dazzle us with their vibrant beauty. where do butterflies come from? what do they eat and how? Simple rhyming text and colorful collages provide answers to these and other questions. Ehlert follows the life cycle of four common butterflies, from their beginnings as tiny eggs and hungry caterpillars to their glorious transformation. This is no ordinary butterfly book, it includes information on butterflies and flowers and tips for identifying them, as well as a guide to planting a butterfly garden.
books about flies
there was an old lady who swallowed a fly, by simms tabak, your children will have fun singing this classic rhyme!
Old Black Fly by Jim Aylesworth, a sung story about a silly fly and all that he does to annoy a family on a hot summer day.
the fly, by petr horacek, flies aren’t annoying, they’re just misunderstood, according to the main character in this beautifully illustrated tale. Bright mixed-media illustrations and clever cutouts make this interactive book a sure hit with the preschool crowd!
books about bugs and insects for preschoolers
in the tall, tall grass, by denise fleming, what do you see creeping, crawling, and jumping in the tall, tall grass? Simple rhyming text and onomatopoeia lend themselves well to a fun, interactive read-aloud session that incorporates movement and sound. amazingly creative illustrations can lead to more opportunities for discussion and exploration of art. A must for any picture book lover!
bugs! insects! Bugs!, by Bob Barner Ladybugs, butterflies, leggy, and chubby bugs are some of the creatures featured in this beautifully illustrated book. with fun facts about each bug, bugs! insects! insects! It is sure to inform and entertain your little bug lovers.
See Also: John Harvey – Book Series In Order
The Bug Book, by Sue Fliess Children will love the sing song rhymes that reveal all the amazing bugs in their world.
National Geographic’s First Big Book of Bugs for Young Children By Catherine Hughes, The Big Book of Bugs is the perfect nonfiction addition to your preschool classroom library. Your children will enjoy looking at the stunning photos of a variety of insects and learning fun facts.
Take a Closer Look: Bugs From dk publishing, this book features vibrant close-up photography and is packed with fun facts and detailed information about insect habitats and diets.
some critters, by angela diterlizzi did you know that your backyard is full of all kinds of amazing critters just waiting to be found? Go on a bug hunt after learning all about how bugs move! this is the perfect book to improve the vocabulary of young children.
Bugs A to Z by Caroline Lawton Vibrant, larger-than-life photos along with fun facts about bugs make this book a great addition to your preschool library.
insect books for children
The following nonfiction books about bugs and insects feature beautiful photographs and informative text appropriate for young children.
fireflies, by mary r. dunn, how many kids are running around trying to catch fireflies! They’ll love learning about the bugs they see outside.
Bumblebees by Fran Howard In this book, readers will learn all about bumblebees, plus get an up-close look at them through vivid, real-life photographs.
ladybugs, by margaret hall lots of full-color photos to help preschoolers learn everything they need to know about ladybugs.
butterflies by fran howard you can’t go wrong with real photos of butterflies!
praying mantises, by margaret hall did you know that praying mantises are important to our world?
ladybugs, by lisa j.
praying mantis, by lisa j.
grasshopper, by lisa j.
dragonflies, by robin nelson
more insect ideas
Insect Science: Ant Life Cycle Craft – This preschool science activity is to create an ant life cycle craft and would be a great addition to any insect-themed learning experience at home! home or in the classroom!
insect letter matching game – learning about insects is a perfect spring theme for preschoolers. This insect alphabet matching activity will allow your children to take a closer look at the characteristics of insects and will help your preschoolers learn uppercase and lowercase letters.
Bug Sorting Printable Activity – Learning about bugs is a fun way to celebrate the spring season! This activity consists of classifying insects and animals using practical materials to accompany one of my favorite children’s books.
See Also: New Dr. Seuss-inspired books will feature diverse writers and illustrators : NPR