Do you have students in your class who love insects, bugs, and other critters? This post shares popular insect picture books that elementary teachers often use as read alouds. All of the picture books on this list lend themselves to this topic really well. Take a peek below to learn more about these insect picture books for kids!
6 Insect Picture Books
Below is a list of some of our favorite insect picture books at the elementary level. Check them out below!
1. Hey, Little Ant by Phillip M. Hoose
Hey, Little Ant by Phillip M. Hoose tells the story of a boy who finds an ant and wants to squish it, and an ant who doesn’t want to be squished. The story goes back and forth between the perspective of the ant and the perspective of the boy. The boy gives the ant reasons why he should squish the ant and the ant gives the boy reasons why he should not be squished.
At the end of this story readers have to decide whether or not the boy should squish the ant. This story has readers explore what it is like to take the perspective of someone else when making choices.
Check out these Hey, Little Ant lessons and activities to help you plan and deliver highly engaging interactive read aloud lessons!
2. It Fell From the Sky by The Fan Brothers
It Fell From the Sky by The Fan Brothers is about when something magical fell from the sky and landed in the garden. Critters from all over came to view as they have never seen such a thing! Was it a planet? A chrysalis? Oddly enough, spider happened to make a web right where it fell. He claimed it as his own and began a Grand Exhibit, a scheme to get wealthy, where critters could come and view the spectacular thing.
But once everyone visited, they left. No one stuck around to keep Spider company. He realized that he was being selfish, so he quickly built a web that crawled up the flowers to attract other random objects. He shared them with the garden-folk, and they all lived happily together in the garden once more.
Check out these It Fell From the Sky lessons and activities to help you plan and deliver highly engaging interactive read aloud lessons!
3. The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle
The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle is about how two ladybugs flew onto a leaf at the same time one morning. They both wanted to eat the aphids that covered the leaf. Immediately, the grouchy ladybug told the friendly ladybug to go away and that he wanted to eat the aphids. The friendly ladybug remained calm and suggested they share the bugs. However, the grouchy ladybug insisted upon eating the aphids himself and said he would fight the friendly ladybug for them. To his surprise, the friendly ladybug agreed to the fight. Feeling uncertain, the grouchy ladybug said the friendly ladybug was too small and flew off.
Throughout the book, the grouchy ladybug comes across a variety of animals and asks if they want to fight. Each time, the other animal agrees and each time the grouchy ladybug says they’re not big enough. By the end of the day, the grouchy ladybug had met a yellow jacket, praying mantis, stag, sparrow, lobster, skunk, boa constrictor, hyena, gorilla, rhinoceros, elephant, and a whale. In fact, the whale’s tale hit the ladybug and sent him flying back to the leaf he started his day at. The same friendly ladybug was there and offered to share what was left of the aphids. Feeling tired and hungry, the grouchy ladybug agreed.
Check out these The Grouchy Ladybug lessons and activities to help you plan and deliver highly engaging interactive read aloud lessons!
4. The Very Quiet Cricket by Eric Carle
The Very Quiet Cricket by Eric Carle is about how it was a sunny day when a little cricket hatched from an egg. He was greeted by a bigger cricket, who chirped hello. Wanting to answer, the little cricket rubbed his wings together, but was unable to make a sound.
Throughout the book, the little cricket is greeted by many different insects including a locust, praying mantis, worm, spittlebug, cicada, bumblebee, dragonfly, mosquitos, and a luna moth. Each insect has their own unique sound when saying hello. Unfortunately, the little cricket tries to chirp hello each time, but no sound comes out.
At the end of the book, the little cricket comes across another cricket that is very quiet, a girl cricket. This time, when he rubs his wings together, he makes a chirping sound! This sound is the most beautiful sound the girl cricket had ever heard!
Check out these The Very Quiet Cricket lessons and activities to help you plan and deliver highly engaging interactive read aloud lessons!
5. The Very Lonely Firefly by Eric Carle
The Very Lonely Firefly by Eric Carle tells the story of a young firefly. The firefly was born at sunset and immediately took off into the night sky looking for other fireflies.
As the firefly flies through the night, there are various lights in the sky. Each time the firefly flies towards the light but realizes it is something else: a candle, lantern, flashlight, even fireworks. The firefly starts to feel lonely because he can’t find any other fireflies.
At the end of the book, the firefly finally comes across a group of fireflies. They are all flashing their own lights and the firefly joins them. Finally, the firefly no longer feels lonely.
Check out these The Very Lonely Firefly lessons and activities to help you plan and deliver highly engaging interactive read aloud lessons!
6. The Very Clumsy Click Beetle by Eric Carle
The Very Clumsy Click Beetle by Eric Carle tells the story of a young beetle. While on a walk, the young beetle grew tired and fell from a tree. The beetle landed on his back and couldn’t get back up. When the young beetle called for help, a wise old beetle appeared. He promised to return the next morning and teach the young beetle how to click and flip through the air to land on his feet.
As promised, the wise old beetle came back the next day and showed the young beetle how to get back up. But when the young beetle tried, he just landed on his back. An earthworm, turtle, snail and mouse came by and each encouraged the young beetle to keep trying. However, when a person approached, the young beetle was scared. This time, when the young beetle kicked and flipped, he somersaulted through the air and landed on his feet! The wise old beetle cheered for his success!
Check out these The Very Clumsy Click Beetle lessons and activities to help you plan and deliver highly engaging interactive read aloud lessons!
Or Get All of the Activity Packets for 600+ Picture Books!
Starts with a Story is a collection of hundreds of book companions based on high quality children’s literature that support you in delivering highly-engaging interactive read alouds with follow up activities. Each book companion includes:
- reading comprehension questions with sample student responses
- 30 writing prompts targeting 10 different types of writing
- SEL lesson ideas based on character and events from each story
- printable student activities
- editable teaching slides with book-based clipart
- and more.
Learn how to get unlimited access to all 600+ book companion packets below!
One Last Thing Before You Go… Grab this Free Reading Resource!
If you want to get more book ideas to read aloud to your elementary students, then grab this reading freebie for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade classroom teachers. It includes:
- seasonal read aloud books lists for teachers
- printable reading logs to track students’ reading
- monthly reading challenges to motivate students to read more
It will have you covered for the entire school year, as well as the summer months! Grab this free elementary reading packet now!
In closing, we hope you found this list of insect picture books for kids helpful! They are part of our Starts With a Story collection.
