Butterflies, Beetles and Bugs, Oh My!

Fascinating creatures are all around us. You don’t need to go to the zoo or even the park to learn more about wildlife. Insects, arthropods and all sorts of small creepy crawlies can be found right in your own backyard. 

Check out the list below to grab a guide or savor a story. And remember, you can ask your local librarian for personalized suggestions, buggy or otherwise, any time.  

This booklist was created in support of BUZZWORD PGH to encourage imagination, investigation, creation, and reflection. Available to families throughout Allegheny County, BUZZWORD PGH engages young children and their families as they discover the words that are all around them.


You can sign up for a free library card here.   

If you are new to our eResources, check out these tutorial videos on how to get started.      

If you’re looking for more book suggestions, we’re happy to recommend them to you! Use this Book Recommendation form to send us some information about what you like to read and we’ll curate a list just for you.     

If you have any additional questions, you can contact a librarian through Facebook, Instagram or X. You can also call us at 412-622-3114 or email us at info@carnegielibrary.org

The Bug Club

A humorous, nonfiction children’s book that introduces interesting facts about various insects.


Bugblock

Readers will learn about all the things that make bugs incredible-from spider crickets that can jump 60 times their own length to Chinese stick insects that can grow to be over two feet long to caterpillars that transform into stunning butterflies. 


Bugs: A Skittery, Jittery History

Insects are some of the most ancient creatures on Earth, evolving alongside lichen, ferns, and trees. They were the first animal explorers to conquer the land and the sky. This epic timeline follows bugs and their arthropod cousins from their earliest appearance in the Paleozoic era, all the way up to bugs today and the important contributions they bring to the world 

This title is also available for checkout as an eBook on Hoopla.


Bugs! Bugs! Bugs!

A nonsense rhyme introduces children to familiar bugs. Includes a fun facts section. 

This title is also available for checkout as an eBook on Libby and an eBook on Hoopla.   


Du Iz Tak?

Detailed illustrations and a playfully invented bug language invite readers to imagine the dramatic possibilities to be found in the natural world of a humble backyard garden.


I Love Insects

Whether a child loves or hates insects, they will learn many interesting insect facts, as well as why insects are essential to human survival. 



A Kid's Guide to Backyard Bugs

Become a bug expert with this field guide for kids! Grab your magnifying glass and get ready to jump into the fascinating world of bugs! You’ll discover fascinating facts about the United States’ most common insects, as well as a DIY project, a log for keeping track of your finds, important information on protecting bugs, and a glossary of bug-related terms. 


Out in the Wild!

To earn their foraging bug badge, Doug, Abby, and Josh–the Bug Scouts–embark on an adventure in the wilderness to find an edible plant and encounter a clever, yet hungry, frog who distracts them from their mission. 


Sir Ladybug and the Bookworms

While on his way to fulfill a most noble duty–returning his library book before it is overdue–Sir Ladybug engages in a battle royale against the dastardliest of foes: bookworms. 

This title is also available for checkout as an eBook on Hoopla.