"Highly Recommended!"
- Quill and Quire
(Starred Review)

"Four Stars!"
- CM Magazine
Shortlisted for the 2010 Lane Anderson Science Writing Award, Silver Birch Award AND 2011 Hackmatack and
Red Cedar Awards!
Most experts believe there are over 10 quintillion (10,000,000,000,000,000,000) individual insects digging, boring, flying, crawling, and excreting their way in and around the Earth. That’s about a billion billion bugs for every single person. And that’s not even counting their close relatives, the arachnids, which include spiders, lice, ticks, scorpions, and mites. So, if we humans really are that outnumbered, wouldn’t it be a good idea to learn a little more about our insect overlords?

Helaine Becker’s latest activities guide does just that. Following the same format as her critically acclaimed Science on the Loose, which demystified science through fun and silly experiments, The Insecto-Files investigates the hidden lives of insects. It blends little-known facts about bugs with a wealth of easy-to-do activities that are as entertaining as they are educational. Packed with Becker’s trademark blend of energy, irreverence, and information, The Insecto-Files offers budding entomologists a gleeful guerilla approach to learning about the wonderful world of bugs.

Reviews:

"Helaine Becker, author of Boredom Blasters and more, turns her attention here to a topic kids love: creepy, crawly bugs of all shapes and sizes. The Insecto-files is jammed with interesting facts presented in kid-friendly language, with illustrations that vary between scientifically accurate and comic-book funny.

The kinds of facts found here are fascinating, even for an adult reader. Who knew that every 17 years, fungus affects the cicada population, causing their rear ends to fall off? Kids – and teachers – love details like this, which capture the imagination and give opportunities for further discussion and reading.

Becker offers her readers page after page of hands-on science activities, each with its own catchy title. In “The Dine and Dash,” participants try eating a variety of foods, using only teeth or a bendable straw to sample the techniques that hungry bugs use to get their honey, leaves, or nectar. For each exercise or activity, she provides a list of materials needed, clear step-by-step instructions, and an explanation of the science behind it.

The book’s language is accessible, but strives for scientific accuracy as well. Where necessary, a term is explained simply: water molecules “adhere, or stick to” other molecules. Correct scientific terms are used throughout, including Latin names and biological references, but the varied reading levels of potential readers, not to mention their senses of humour, are kept in mind. “Insect flatulence” is referred to as “burps and toots to you and me.” Teachers are bound to have fun with that one.

The Insecto-files includes an index of scientific concepts as well as a list of experiments, a general index, and the answers to quizzes and puzzles. Visually appealing and full of fascinating facts, this is a highly recommended addition to a home or school library."

                 - Quill & Quire Starred Review

"filled with fascinating facts and easy experiments that will enlighten young entomologists in the schoolyard, backyard, or at the cottage. From basic anatomy and quizzes to test their insect recognition skills to wacky trivia about prehistoric dragonflies and male cicadas' mating calls, this book provides children with a fountain of knowledge and insight into the insect world....a light-hearted and fun affair, perfect for budding young scientists...an excellent addition to any classroom, school or home/cottage library."

                                                                        - Canadian Children's Book News

"Award-winning author and former science kit developer Helaine Becker invites kids to explore the world of insects in her irresistible new book, The Insecto-files. Becker has published in varied children's genres and has brought a wealth of experience to this entertaining, yet educational, title. As we have come to expect from the author, this publication is well researched and presented in an engaging manner. Using an amusing, conversational style, Becker invites readers to identify and classify insects from the everyday to the rare and the fantastic. Readers are hooked from the introduction. The collection of original experiments and activities encourages kids in an entertaining way to think, do and learn. Each experiment can be safely performed at home using everyday equipment and ingredients with minimum fuss..The book begins with a table of contents, and there are 28 double page spreads addressing a different topic with appropriate activities. For example, there are sections on bug basics, night creatures, bug bites, master builders, and amazing facts. Bees and ants are given there own double page spreads...Becker has once again joined forces with illustrator Claudia Dávila who has created a colorful, zany and appealing design. Her computer-generated images, charts and dialogue boxes complement and enhance Becker's breezy style. Readers will appreciate this artistic approach as it allows smaller chunks of information to be absorbed.

    In addition to a regular subject index at the book's conclusion, there is also a helpful list of science concepts and experiments.

    This reasonably priced, nicely packaged and presented volume will be a great addition to libraries at school and at home."

4 out of 4 Stars   Highly Recommended. - CM Magazine