Bugs For Lunch

Bugs For Lunch

by Margery Facklam

Charlesbridge Publishing

Work-prey-trapping-catching-zapping

Eating-snacking-munching-slurping

Looking-Searching

Bugs For Lunch is a beautifully illustrated, short poem designed to introduce kids to the many creatures who eat bugs and various strategies for catching these meals.  The twist at the end introduces the idea of entomophagy...people eating bugs.

As a bonus, at the end, the author gives short interesting paragraphs on each featured feaster.  Bugs For Lunch is one of those fabulous books that can be a 5 minute read or a springboard for long, ponderous reading, talking, and thinking.  

The rhyme and great pictures make this fun to read, and watching your child ponder the possibility of eating bugs on a stick is entertaining.  Filling tiny ears with varied words for 'catch' and 'eat' is validating, and I always like to say 'entomophagy' just to take it a step further.  

Offering synonyms for familiar words is called 'recasting'.  You say the word one way, then recast the concept with a different word.  Recasting is one of the best strategies for teaching vocabulary.  Parents can use it as a tool for getting words in kids' ears by challenging themselves to think of new ways to say familiar words.  "Big" can be "gigantic, huge, monstrous, tremendous, immense, colossal, enormous".  When 'big' comes out of your mouth, tack 'immense' or 'colossal' for emphasis:

"That's a big truck.  It's immense!"

Another strategy is to recast your child's words:

Kid: "Look at the big bug, Mom!"

Mom: "Oh my!  That bug is big!  It's colossal!"

You could start with the SAT word:

"You have been a tremendous help to me.  You've made a big difference."

Bugs For Lunch gives parents an easy way to recast the familiar concepts of 'catch' and 'eat'.