20 Picture Books About Bugs for Kids

I recall singing a song called “I Hate Bugs” at a summer day camp I attended as a child. Except, I didn’t. I loved bugs and I loved to collect them and learn about them. Much to my mother’s dismay, I couldn’t get enough of bugs. If you have a budding entomologist in your house or classroom, you may want to invest in a few of these great kids books about bugs.

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Fictional Books About Bugs

(For toddlers, definitely go with the board book version of these so they will last.)

The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle is a bestselling book about an ill-tempered, bad-mannered ladybug who can’t be bothered to say “please” and “thank you.”

If you love this one, you’ll want read more of Eric Carle’s preschool books, such as The Very Busy Spider, The Very Lonely Firefly, The Very Quiet Cricket, and The Very Hungry Caterpillar. They are some of our favorite books!

Diary of a Worm – This funny book by Doreen Cronin looks at the daily life of a kid worm through his diary/scrapbook. This story will surely fuel young kids imaginations.

Be sure to check out the rest of the series with Diary of a Spider and Diary of a Fly.

Because a Little Bug Went Ka-Choo is about a bug who sneezes and set off a hilarious chain-reaction of events. This one is a great book for young children, and a fun way to learn cause and effect.

Miss Spider’s Tea Party by David Kirk is a story about overcoming fear and rejection with love and goodness. Written by the author for his daughter, this story has become a beloved classic.

In the Tall, Tall Grass by Denise Fleming lets kids imagine what it would be like to be a tiny caterpillar crawling through the grass. This is a beautiful book with simple text and beautiful pictures that young readers will enjoy over and over.

The Little Squeegy Bug is a magical book about a tiny bug who is trying to discover his purpose in the world and learns that being himself is just right.

Ten Little Ladybugs by Melanie Gerth is a classic picture book and the perfect way to teach counting to little readers. Kids can touch the pretty ladybugs on each page as they count down from 10 to 1.

The Bugliest Bug by Carol Diggory Shields – This lively story is fast-paced and loaded with bug vocabulary and fantastic illustrations. The fun story will captivate younger children and older children alike.

Non-Fiction Books About Bugs

This non-fiction book list has insect books that both older kids and younger children will enjoy. Full of interesting facts, vibrant illustrations, and lots of creepy crawlies, your little bug enthusiasts will want to read these time and again.

The Backyard Bug Book for Kids is loaded with pictures and activities to help introduce kids to the types of bugs and tiny creatures they may see everyday.

Mrs. Peanuckle’s Bug Alphabet is a fun book that introduces kids to new bugs as they work their way through the alphabet.

National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Bugs – This is a great reference book for children and includes photos along with lots of fun facts.

The Big Book of Bugs illustrates all kinds of bugs to offer children a first look at things that creep, crawl and fly. Kids can learn more about their favorite bug, see the life cycle of a butterfly, and understand more about how bugs fit in with our world. I just love the pictures in this book, and the text is simple but engaging. Perfect for younger children, but older kids and parents will be entertained as well.

Ultimate Bugopedia: The Most Complete Bug Reference Ever – This book is perfect for kids who are really interested in bugs and are looking to really dive into the tiny world of insects. The real life photos in this National Geographic Kids book really makes this a great bug book for kids of all ages.

Sounds of the Wild: Bugs – Sounds of bugs accompany fun popup illustrations with factual information about bugs. A unique reference for sure.

Which of these kids books about bugs is your favorite?

Does your child love bugs? Books about bugs are also a great way to help kids who are a bit fearful about bugs. If you have a favorite book we failed to mention and you think it would make a great addition to our list, please leave a comment to tell us about it!