Kite, Patricia L. Insect Facts and Folklore. Millbrook, 2001. ISBN 0761318224. $27.90. 80 pp. Reviewer: AnnMarie Hamar Reading Level: Intermediate Rating: Outstanding Genre: Informational books Subject: Insects--Juvenile fiction; Insects--Folklore--Juvenile fiction; Insects--Folklore; Books--Reviews Did you know that bees must visit two million flowers to make one pound of honey? That there are approximately three hundred thousand different species of beetles? That monarch butterflies migrate up to two thousand miles southward in early fall? Kite's book is a marvelous introduction to twelve different kinds of insects, their habitats, and habits. Her text describes the usefulness of each species. Informative side boxes discuss terminology and folk beliefs regarding insects. Each section ends with a story or folk legend that explains a characteristic or habit of the insect. Kite' s book is a fascinating reference work that helps to dispel some of the misconceptions people have about insects and their purposes. The text is illustrated by clear, detailed, color photographs. A list of books for further reading and Internet sites is also included.
