Hello, friends! Our book today is 100 Bugs!: A Counting Book, written by Kate Narita and illustrated by Suzanne Kaufman, a colorful and engaging interactive book for young entomologists.

A brother and sister wake up, excited to start their day – they’re going bug-counting, and you’re invited to join! Each two-page spread features ten individuals of a different creepy crawly species, the rhyming text inviting the reader to find the insects among the sunny scenery and flowers. The center spread allows for more counting fun, allowing readers to seek-and-find up to fifty of the animals. At last, the siblings retire for the day, proud of their work – all together, you and they have counted 100 bugs.

What a delightful book of beasties! Combining arithmetic with bug spotting, the theme encourages curious little minds to look for and identify insects while also honing their math skills. And while the repeating rhyme scheme felt a little awkward at first, by the end I started to find the rhythm. The art is the star here, creating bright, colorful rural scenes and chipper characters that embody summer and childhood curiosity, and the many bugs are lifelike yet nonthreatening. The length is fine for any little Bookworm, and JJ really enjoyed both the insects and the arithmetic. A lovely book for budding scientists and/or mathematicians, and it’s Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)