Have You Seen Bugs?

Judy Davies is the resource-based learning consultant in the area of
school librarianship, Prince Edward Island Department of Education.

Many young readers are already familiar with Joanne Oppenheim’s Have
You Seen Birds? This book is written in the same whimsical, yet factual,
rhyming style. Illustrator Ron Broda provides a delightful assortment of
three-dimensional paper sculptures. The design of this book is certainly
creative and esthetically pleasing. The text and impressive full-color
illustrations are well integrated on double pages, with the paper
sculptures and watercolors carefully lit and photographed by William
Kuryluk. Just as Have You Seen Birds? inspired children and adults to
explore the wonderful medium of Plasticine

for illustration, Have You Seen Bugs? should create renewed interest in
collage and paper sculpture.

The book is informative as well. For every poetic question the author
poses about a particular creature or about bugs in general, there are
intricate and detailed illustrations providing answers and insights.
Page 30 contains a special page-by-page descriptive listing of the many
bugs or arthropods covered in the book, including insects, spiders, and
millipedes. This type of “index” will make the book more accessible,
especially for older children who are looking for information. Have You
Seen Bugs? is a wonderful choice for a read-aloud, inviting discussion
and generating many questions for further investigation. Highly
recommended.