Bugged: How Insects Changed History

Albee, Sarah

ISBN 10: 0802734235 ISBN 13: 9780802734235

Publisher: Walker Childrens, 2014

Synopsis

There are about ten quintillion insects in the world―and some of them have affected human history in tremendous ways! For as long as humans have been on earth, we've co-existed with insects . . . for better or for worse. Once you begin to look at world history through fly-specked glasses, you begin to see the mark of these minute life forms at every turn. Beneficial bugs have built empires. Bad bugs have toppled them. Bugged is not your everyday history book. From the author and illustrator team behind kid-favorite Poop Happened! A History of the World from the Bottom Up, this combination of world history, social history, natural science, epidemiology, public health, conservation, and microbiology is told with fun and informative graphics and in an irreverent voice, making this one fun-to-read book.

About this title

About the Author

SARAH ALBEE is the author of Poop Happened! A History of the World from the Bottom Up and dozens of books for young readers, three of which have been New York Times bestsellers. She lives in Connecticut with her husband, three kids and dog. She blogs about offbeat history topics at sarahalbeebooks.com/blog.

ROBERT LEIGHTON is the illustrator of Poop Happened! A History of the World from the Bottom Up and What's Going on Down There?, as well as a puzzle-writer and New Yorker cartoonist. He lives in New York City.

Reviews

Gr 5–8—The shock value alone makes this worth the cover price, but once kids are pulled in, they will learn more than they bargained for about the impact of insects on human history. Insects have determined the outcomes of wars and the paths of human migrations; they have brought plagues, provided strong fabrics, and sweetened our tea. Chapters are divided topically, beginning with the basics of insect life cycles, moving on to human hygiene and beneficial insects, and then covering "bad news bugs," before tackling history from the "earliest epidemics" to current concerns in the relationship between humans and insects. This is history for those with a strong constitution, who aren't bothered by phrases such as "cockroach brain tissue," "crawling with maggots," and "bursting buboes" or by the idea of receiving 9,000 insect bites in a minute. With a green-and-purple design, reminiscent of a beetle, and black-and-white photos and cartoon illustrations, this is an attractive package full of hand-washing inducing facts. Overall, this title is astonishing, disgusting, revolting, and ultimately fascinating, making it perfect for emerging entomologists, budding historians, reluctant readers, and gross-out junkies alike.—Heather Acerro, Rochester Public Library, MN

Edition details

• Publisher: Walker Childrens
• Publication date: 2014
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0802734235
• ISBN 13: 9780802734235
• Binding: Library Binding
• Illustrator: Leighton Robert
• Number of pages: 176