From blowing bubbles to shooting poop, the world's insects do amazing things with their butts. This book lets kids learn about the wild and weird ways insects use their butts to avoid predators, interact with the world around them, and survive. Spittlebugs blow bubbles from their butts and hide under them, while some caterpillars shoot their poop far from their bodies to throw poop-searching wasps off their trail. Ants and beetles spray acid from their butts into the faces of predators, while some caterpillars and larvae build hide-outs with their poop to keep predators away. Insects also use pheromones from their butts to communicate with friends, relatives, and enemies. Still other insects say thank you for protecting me by sharing their high-sugar poop. And some termites and roaches feed their offspring poop to provide microorganisms needed to help digest wood. Illustrated by a PhD biologist in a playful, yet scientifically accurate, style and tech edited by a PhD entomologist, Bug Butts combines the best of real science and real fun. Includes glossary, index, and anatomy appendix.

8x10 hardcover with jacket, 4-color illustration, 48 pages, $14.95.

"The ability to grab students' attention and engage them in reading is often enhanced by the "ick" factor. This book definitely will grab some readers' attention as they delve into the realistic details in this book. This topic might seem disgusting to adults, but it will captivate students as they learn about anatomical adaptations that allow some insects to survive.

The book is well researched and has been reviewed by multiple scientists in the entomology field. It contains colorful illustrations and captivating descriptions of how bugs use their butts. Each two-page spread provides an illustration and a narrative. Examples of topics include how insects use their abdominal adaptations to survive, move, and fight. Vocabulary about insect anatomy as well as insect names are provided where appropriate and flow smoothly within the text. The end of the book provides illustrations and information that is grade-level appropriate; this covers the actual anatomy of an insect and describes how food is ingested by a bug and eventually excreted by the particular butt in question.

Also included is an index and glossary that will enhance students' understanding. While it is often said that a book will be a good addition to the classroom library, this book will be a great addition to the classroom or school library. It will engage readers in a topic that is often not talked about—in the words of young readers, "butts"—while at the same time provide them with accurate information about adaptations of insects that help them to survive."