A Totally, Unabashedly Incomplete Book About Bugs

by Ptera Hunter

A Totally, Unabashedly Incomplete Book About Bugs introduces The insects, how they help us, and how they can harm us. It organizes information on a few of the insects using the same arrangement of orders that would be found in a museum insect collection. The main pages are accessible at a grade-school level, and the glossary and questions can keep the book relevant right into the undergraduate years.

54 pages, Paperback

Published August 11, 2018

About the author

Ptera Hunter received a Doctorate in Zoology from The University of Toronto. She has taught classes on environmental biology and animal behavior for years. Dr. Hunter has also published a book on insects, "The Unabashedly Totally Incomplete Book about Bugs," and several books of short stories, poetry, and journal articles. She has also spoken at international conferences on the biological roots of cruelty, discrimination, and greed. In the spirit of her books and with the inspiration of Loki, she has chosen the pseudonym "Ptera Hunter" to distinguish her nonfiction works from her creative writings. Author’s comment: “Hey, if it’s good enough for Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, Mary Ann Evans, and Samuel Clements, then it’s good enough for me.”

Together with the pen name, I chose a photo of an animal I find adorable, the free-living flatworm Dugesia. Just look at that face!

Reviews

[Moneen M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read a hard copy of this book several years ago. It is full of facts for crawling and flying insects. This book would make a great addition to the curriculum for individuals in Future Farmers of America, high school biology, middle school science, or elementary students. I can see using the book as a source for research topics for a science project or research paper. The book gives insights to insect taxonomy and behaviors, but not enough that a student would not need to continue their research at a library or online - which is a good thing. For middle school and elementary students, it will engage them in the natural world and peek their interests outside of the classroom. Use the book on a hike or field trip! The book even has questions and answers, so you can use it as a Kahoot study guide!

[Circa24 Circa24 · Rating 5 out of 5]

True confessions? I am fascinated by insects. Terrified of many of them but fascinated. This is a short book with each page dedicated to one of the major orders of insects and is organized as a series of facts on file cards and cleaver cartoons designed to help the ideas stick. Great for kids of all ages.

If the book stopped there, it would be great for kids. However, the author adds a down-to-earth glossary that would help a biology student straight through college.

[Marijo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the book. For kids, it has fun facts and humorous cartoons. However, it is organized in the taxonomic order that would be used in a museum collection, lumping together related orders and priming their scientific thinking about classification. The best part, however, is the glossary at the back, which will make this book useful through college entry-level entomology