Bugs Before Time: Prehistoric Insects and Their Relatives

Did you know that for every pound of people on earth, there are 300 pounds of insects? Or that millions of years ago some of these bugs actually weighed that much? Well, during prehistoric times, before dinosaurs ruled the earth, bugs did; and just like today the seas, skies, and lands were covered by these creepy-crawlers. There were dragonflies with wings that reached a yard across in length, and millipedes that grew to over six feet long! But what is even more fascinating is the fact that all of these creatures in some form or another learned to adapt and survive to become the insects and sea beasts of today. In this fully illustrated picture book, readers will be captivated by the detailed information of prehistoric insects, arachnids, and their relatives. Chock-full of facts about fossil formation, insect evolution, flight theories, and geologic time, Bugs Before Time will mesmerize entomologists of all ages. Author Cathy Camper's absorbing text, and artist Steve Kirk's extraordinary paintings combine to re-create a world where giants reigned. Read more Continue reading Read less FROM SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNALGrade 4-7-A handsome introduction to prehistoric insects and other arthropods. Camper's up-to-date, conversational text and informative captions and data boxes investigate such disparate matters as insect evolution, theories on flight development, continental drift, and fossil formation. While not an in-depth dissertation, there is plenty of meat here for young researchers, assisted by an excellent list of further readings and some Web sites. Kirk's eye-catching, realistic watercolors portray a fascinating array of creatures, some with evolutionary existing descendants: trilobites, ants, eurypterids, and dragonflies among them. Neither an index nor a table of contents is provided, which may cause some dismay, but the chapter headings on every other page (and those nifty illustrations) should assist readers. A colorful time line is appended to assist in placing the discussed creatures in Earth's prehistory, as is a helpful glossary of the many unfamiliar terms. The book is sure to entrance budding entomologists and surprise dinophiles with the Arthropoda's long evolutionary history (which ante- and postdates their beloved beasts by a good many millions of years).Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NYCopyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. FROM BOOKLISTGr. 3-5. Camper introduces a variety of insects and their arthropod relatives that lived during prehistoric times. She describes several common bugs--among them, ants, spiders, and cockroaches--still thriving today, as well as other, now extinct creatures such as trilobites and erypterids. She also includes sections on fossil formation, evolution, the location of continents, and geological time. Kirk's brightly colored watercolor illustrations, from large double-page spreads to small inset drawings, add informational value. Many are captioned; unfortunately a fe.…