Pick a bug any bug and most like you’ll have an eager preschooler ready with questions and observations. Let’s give those little creatures some love. We are exploring preschool books about insects today.
According to National Geographic, “insects have three pairs of jointed legs, segmented bodies, an exoskeleton, one pair of antennae, and (usually) one or two pairs of wings.”
First, let’s say that all true bugs are insects, but not all insects are true bugs. Some of these books include bugs that are not insects.
All About Insects Books for Preschoolers
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A Good Place by Lucy Cousins follows some insects around as they try to find a good home. Guess where that good place is? Yes, a garden.
Beetle Bop by Denise Fleming is a rhythmic read featuring all sorts of beetles from small to big and chewing and sawing beetles.
I was absolutely fascinated reading 13 Ways to Eat a Fly by Sue Heavenrich. Learn about all the different predators that eat flies and how they eat them as you can down from thirteen. A fascinating pick for older preschoolers.
A must series for insects is Elise Gravel’s The Disgusting Critters Series. It’s amazing. Here we have Head Lice. (I bet you just scratched your head.) Fascinating, funny, and informative. You can also check out The Cockroach, The Mosquito, or The Fly.
Backyard Books is also a great introductory science series for preschoolers. Try Are You a Beetle? by Judy Allen. The text has students imagine they are a certain animal and describes what the life of that animal entails. There is also Are You an Ant?, Are You a Grasshopper?, Are You a Dragonfly?, and many more.
My Awesome Summer by P. Mantis by Paul Meisel is a cute story about a summer in the life of a praying mantis told from the perspective of the creature. This one works well for older preschoolers.
Bug Hotel by Usborne is a fun lift-the-flap book full of facts and discoveries. You can even learn how to make a home for your favorite insects.
I’ll give you three clues and you tell me the insect in Heads and Tails Insects by John Canty. A great pick if you are looking for an interactive read-aloud.
Get ready to be an insect detective from finding where insects live to how they make their homes. Check out Insect Detective by Steve Voake. A good pick for older preschoolers.
Nature Heroes Bella Loves Bugsby Jess French is a bit text-heavy for preschoolers, but the text is very conversational and engaging. Learn about social insects, types of bees, the butterfly life cycle and so much more.
Fly! by Karl Newsom Edwards is a quick and funny read about a fly who is trying to figure out how to move. Should it wiggle like a worm? Should it roll like a roly-poly? Hmmm…how does a fly move?
The Fly by Petr Horáček would pair nicely with Fly! mentioned above. This one is also funny. It’s about a fly trying to figure out why no one wants it around.
Home about a poem a day with Cricket in the Thicket: Poems About Bugs by Carol Murray. Learn fun facts about different insects in each poem. Did you know that cicadas spend up to 17 years underground growing into an adult? Wowzers!
Burt the Beetle Lives Here! by Ashley Spires explores where different insects live in a funny and informational read. It’s a great format for beginning readers with graphic novel-style panels on many pages, speech bubbles and lots of humor. But, also makes a good read-aloud to preschoolers.
Books About Bees
There are some amazing books about bees from how their hives work to how to relocate a whole hive. I have a whole list for you.—> Books About Bees
Butterfly Books for Preschoolers
Another insect that deserves its own book list is the butterfly.—> Books About Butterflies
Eric Carle Insect Books
Eric Carle has many books featuring insects. Here are a few and activities to go with them.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar (activities included)
The Grouchy Ladybug (activities included)
Books About People Who Love Insects or Bugs
The Bug Girl: A True Story by Sophia Spencer is the story of a girl who was teased for loving bugs. But, a bug-loving community came around to support her. Be you!
Evelyn the Adventurous Entomologist: The True Story of a World-Traveling Bug Hunter by Christine Evans is the story of a girl who loved bugs in a time when girls weren’t supposed to be into bugs or work. But, she turned her passion into a career.
Printable Book List of Preschool Books About Insects
Grab a printable list of the books shared above to take to the library or add to your lesson plans.
Enjoy reading about all the insects with your preschoolers.
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