Annotation
Feast you eyes on page after page of amazing electron microscope photographs by award-winning photographer Volker Steger coupled with fascinating insect facts and histories by author Josie Glausiusz. Josie introduces the reader to the world of bugs by first tracing the origin of the word from its Middle English or Welsh roots denoting scarecrow, hobgoblin or ghost. Quickly addressing how common it is for humans to fear bugs, she proceeds to enlighten the reader how different and less enjoyable the world would be without them. Curiosity thus peaked, the reader turns past the introduction to find Strangers in the Bed, chapter one. The accompanying photographs will alternately send shivers of fear then goose bumps of wonder and amazement. All the photos are spectacular. Some of the subjects are truly beautiful, others are …well, gross is the word that comes to mind. The flea circus, introduced in the last chapter, is sure to enchant even the most staunch bug hater. One can not help come away from this book in awe of the daily lives of insects.

The text is suitable to precocious youth, teens and adults. One criticism, the font should be larger throughout the book for a more comfortable read. The photographs will fascinate all ages.

~ Jocelyn Hubbell, 2/8/2006
Coordinator, Cornerstones of Science