By: nicole,
on 3/18/2013
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By: andrea joseph,
on 2/1/2013
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By: Chuck Dillon,
on 1/25/2013
By: Cathy Hookey,
on 10/10/2012
A challenge to draw my favourite animal, which stumped me, because I have about a bjillion favourite animals & I've already drawn most of them. So I chose my favourite from the list of my favourites which I haven't drawn yet.
By: Julie Fortenberry,
on 8/9/2012
Yesterday I went for a walk in my new neighborhood and saw this!
The moth pictured below is one of Kevin McGillivray's stylish Alphabugs. I love the clean, vivid color.
By: Mayra Calvani,
on 11/2/2010
The Bug That Plagued the Entire Third Grade is a delightful picture book written in rhyme about a boy who wants to win the school's Bug-A-Fair and become Student of the Year.
It all starts when Matt finds a strange-looking bug on his Dad's car. He takes it home, puts it in a jar, and tries to find out what kind of bug it is. But no matter how many books on insects he checks, he can't find it anywhere. Finally, a chance of being recognized at school! Why, the bug could even be a Mighty Bug! Then things get complicated when Matt catches a different kind of bug--the flu! His mom tells him to stay home, but nothing will stop Matt from going to school and winning the fair. Of course, now that he's sick, it isn't only the newly-found bug he brings with him, but also the microscopic one inside his body!
What I really enjoyed about this story is the way the author skillfully combines verse and a complete plot with a clear beginning, middle and end. Each line of verse is essential in moving the tale forward. The book also has a melodic rhythm that young kids will enjoy listening to again and again. The cartoon-like illustrations are simple and colorful. I particularly enjoyed the clever way the author weaves the two types of 'bugs' by playing with the language. This is Lori Calabrese's first children's book but based on this talented debut, I'm sure it won't be her last.
If you're interested in purchasing this book or finding out more about it, visit the author's website at http://www.loricalabrese.com.
Watch the trailer:
By: andrea joseph,
on 1/25/2011
When I made that humongous Moleskine post last week it took me back to France, to when I exhibited my Moleskines. Obviously I've been showing my sketch books online for the last few years. But before the exhibition in France few people had ever seen them 'in the flesh'. And, at first, I was quite reticent to show them. Specifically my 'spare' Moleskine. I had never ever shown anyone this book before. You might have seen a few of the finished drawings from it but that's it. The reason for that is because, apart from those odd finished pieces, my spare Moleskine is full of lists, quotes, lyrics, doodles and thoughts. And that's quite scary. I've always felt that peering into that book is a bit like finding John Nash's shed in the woods and opening the door.
But, to my surprise, many people at the exhibition really enjoyed seeing these pages. Yes, they commented on the obsessive content but it struck a chord somewhere with folk. So, I thought maybe I'd show you some here. The top spread is one of those pages. It's where I chuck everything onto a page for future reference. Then below are some of the drawings that came from those seeds.
Is this stuff of any interest to you? Cos there's loads more of it.
By: Kristin,
on 5/15/2011
By: Lauren,
on 10/14/2011
Entomologists estimate there to be around a quintillion individual insects on the planet--and that's just insects. Bugs are everywhere, but how much do we really know about them? Jeff Lockwood to the rescue! Professor Lockwood is answering all your bug questions--one at a time, that is. Send your question to him care of
By: Kirsty,
on 11/25/2011
Entomologists estimate there to be around a quintillion individual insects on the planet–and that’s just insects. Bugs are everywhere, but how much do we really know about them? Jeff Lockwood to the rescue! Professor Lockwood is answering all your bug questions–one at a time, that is. Send your question to him care of blog@oup.com and he’ll do his best to find you the answer.
Do bugs feel pain? Like, how does the exoskeleton work?
Well, it’s hard to know. But then it’s hard to know what any organism experiences. For that matter, I’m not even sure that you feel pain—or at least that your internal, mental states are the same as mine. This is the “other minds” problem in philosophy. At least other people can tell us what they feel (even if we can’t be certain that their experience is the same as ours), but we can’t even ask insects. However, we can have three rather compelling lines of evidence that our six-legged brethren feel pain.
First, insects have a nervous system that resembles ours in many ways. That is, they see, hear, smell, taste, and feel. Many of our pains arise from pressure, shock, heat and other stimuli administered at high levels—and insects most assuredly respond to these bodily sensations.
Insects can even detect stimuli that are outside of our sensory scope. For example, butterflies can see ultraviolet wavelengths and bees can detect the plane of polarization of light.
Next, there are relevant biochemical similarities between insect and human nervous systems. At least some invertebrates possess endorphins and enkephalins. These chemicals are opioids (think opium) produced by the body to alleviate pain and stress. So the presence of these in insects suggests that they might experience pleasure/pain. We also know that the mechanisms of neural transmission are similar in insects and humans. This is one of the reasons that neurotoxic insecticides also poison you along with the cockroach in your kitchen. In fact, the organophosphate insecticides are based on the nerve gases developed during World War II. Kinda creepy, eh?
Finally, from an evolutionary perspective the awareness of pain is an enormously adaptive mechanism. Feeling pain when you touch something hot allows a fast response—and a learning opportunity. So it is unreasonable to assume that pain is unique to humans. In fact, this perception might reasonably be expected in organisms whose survival can be augmented by the experience of pain, either as part of an escape mechanism or as a basis for the capacity to learn from past experience. Insects have lots of things inflicting damage on them (fly swatters, bug zappers, lizards, bats, entomologists, etc.) and they certainly have the ability to learn (one experiment showed that headless cockroaches can learn—which is possible because insects don’t stuff all of their neural processing into their heads, like we do). So it seems quite reasonable that insects would have evolved the capacity to feel pain.
About 30 years ago, an eminent insect physiologist addressed the question of pain in insects. Vincent Wigglesworth (seriously, that was his name) argued that insects experience internal, visceral pain as well as pain caused by heat and electrical shock. However, he inferred from observations that cuticular damage did not cause pain. For example, an insect doesn’t limp when its leg is damaged. And this leads to your question about the exoskeleton.
The insect’s exoskeleton is, well, a skele
By: Maud Newton,
on 2/27/2012
My latest New York Times Magazine columnlet draws on a passage from H.L. Mencken’s The American Language (1921) about the word “bug.”
“An Englishman,” he says, restricts its use “very rigidly to the Cimex lectularius, or common bed-bug, and hence the word has highly impolite connotations. All other crawling things he calls insects. An American of my acquaintance once greatly offended an English friend by using bug for insect. The two were playing billiards one summer evening in the Englishman’s house, and various flying things came through the window and alighted on the cloth. The American, essaying a shot, remarked that he had killed a bug with his cue. To the Englishman this seemed a slanderous reflection upon the cleanliness of his house.”
In a footnote, Mencken elaborates: “Edgar Allan Poe’s ‘The Gold Bug’ is called ‘The Golden Beetle’ in England. Twenty-five years ago an Englishman named Buggey, laboring under the odium attached to the name, had it changed to Norfolk-Howard, a compound made up of the title and family name of the Duke of Norfolk. The wits of London at once doubled his misery by adopting Norfolk-Howard as a euphemism for bed-bug.”
Even today, slang guru Jonathon Green confirmed when I asked him on Twitter, the UK “does use ‘bedbug’ but otherwise, I would say UK still mainly [uses] ‘insect.’” A British friend of mine agrees, but says of the Mencken passage, “nowadays bug has no connotations of uncleanliness, it’s just not used. The only time an English person says bug to mean insect is ‘don’t let the bedbugs bite’ and no modern British person’s ever had bedbugs, so it’s just a saying, not an insult! We know that it’s a general American term for insect, but we tend to call insects by their species, generally — fly, beetle, ladybird, etc — or, if we need a catch-all euphemism, we’ll say ‘creepy-crawly’ or in Scotland ‘beastie’ (or ‘wee beastie’).”
As the plague spreads, visitors to the UK may wish to make linguistic adjustments.
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By: Stacey,
on 3/13/2012
I’ve hiked alongside a black bear, who was fishing for salmon in a stream, in Alaska. Maybe it was because I was with a group of people, but the bear didn’t scare me. Put me in the same room as an insect and I am no longer fearless. In fact, if my husband is near [...]
By: Pat Zietlow Miller,
on 3/26/2012
Meet Austin.
He’s a boy with a book. And the book is called The Gentleman Bug (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2010) by Julian Hector.
The book is about a quiet, refined, small-town bug who loves reading. When a beautiful lady bug comes to town, she doesn’t seem to notice the gentleman bug. So he tries to spiff up his style to gain her attention.
Of course, things go horribly wrong. But then, they both discover that they have a love of books in common. And that’s all it takes for their friendship to be sealed.
Austin says it’s important for people to be gentlemanly toward each other. He says he is a gentleman because, “I help people. When other people make fun of them, I stick up for them.”
Austin also says that it’s important for people to be themselves and not to try and change just so they fit in better with others.
Here’s what else he had to say about this book:
Our reviewer: Austin
Age: 8
Things I like to do: Lift weights, read, play basketball and skateboard.
This book was about: A bug who was a gentleman and liked to read. Everyone made fun of him, but he didn’t care. Nothing could bother him when he was reading. Then he met a lady bug. She liked to read too, but didn’t tell him. Then, they read together every time they met.
The best part was when: The gentleman bug and the lady bug met.
I smiled when: The gentleman bug was all dressed up and looking in the mirror.
I was worried when: The gentleman bug bumped into someone else at the restaurant and everything spilled all over.
I was surprised when: The lady bug arrived.
This book taught me: To read and really not care what other people might say. I should say, “I don’t care what you think. This is me and nobody can change me.”
Three words to describe this book are: “The.” “Gentleman.” “Bug.”
My favorite picture in the book was: The last page where they are reading books together.
Other kids reading this book should watch for: How to be a gentleman.
You should read this book because: It’s a nice book. And you can learn a lot from it.
Thanks, Austin!
Julian Hector wrote the text and drew the illustrations for this book. Want to learn more about him? You can:
Official disclaimer:
Oh, by the way, I won this nifty book in a giveaway sponsored by Mike Jung, a book blogger whose own book – Geeks, Girls, and Secret Identities – comes out lat
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By: nicole,
on 4/18/2012
Hi Everyone! First, let me apologize for not having a review for you today. It is summer, and with summer come all sorts of fun things to do and see. I wish my summer were one of those fun summers. Instead, this weekend has been straight out of a horror novel. Every year, these little [...]
By: yesisedit,
on 10/7/2009
There are many rocks but old man rock is the wisest of them all.
He watches with a steady gaze through sun and storms.
You may not notice him at first because he is very stealthy and it might seem he could never know anything .
But he is wise ! Old man rock is son of old man mountain and mother earth so he knows the importance of patience.
While he sits there watching and you think he can only know what his eyes tell him, you are wrong.
The wind brings him smells, he knows of the fire before your news person does and he has survived many of those himself so he knows how hot they can be.
He feels and tastes the rain to see if it is good enough for his brothers and sisters like racoon who he lets live in him and deer, fox and even old trickster coyote.
I myself have seen Coyote go many times and howl in old man rocks ear at night to tell him of a fine meal he has brought to share.
When men lay on him and block the sun his friend Ant chases them off then Mosquito makes sure man remembers his lesson near old man rocks drinking water.
He whistles in the wind and knows the world much deeper than you or I.
He feels the world around him and knows heavy weights on his soul.
He watches.
By: yesisedit,
on 1/11/2010
Few rewards are as fun as taking that first spin in you own car.
In my case it started out pretty quick to be “First series Chevy” trucks and through the years I have had seven that ran and this one will be my last I think.
Not because I wouldn’t want a thousand more but gas and the the roar of engines with a smell of burnt petroleum smokin from the tires is almost past to the status of legends.
Carburetors are tossed for EFI 350 V8 blocks or some such but give me that old stove bolt 6 that sounds like a well oiled sewing machine any day.
Gas that once was cheap even for a $0.75 an hour kid is hard to justify but I will until the dinosaurs give up the last drop I can afford just to feel the freedom of wind blowing through the cowl vent, windows down even in mid winter, the purr of early iron and finicky gauges bopping with the bumps and Mr. Butterfield’s ”East West” drifting with the breeze around my head from cheap speakers and a shared drink stashed between me and my girl.
There are few finer feelings than nowhere particular to go, all day to get there in no particular hurry.
Keep um rollin!
By: yesisedit,
on 1/13/2010
Lucky is as lucky does but no rabbit he !
Lucky sees future things that wishes do not fulfill and makes them happen just because …
He knows the rabbit was not so lucky that gave a foot so that you might be …
Hamster ways like hamster days are short stepped and burrowed with mini paws …
But believe or don’t, the magic carried in his Shillelagh, makes no difference to him …
Shillelagh or no, making things happen is Lucky’s way …
Fury lil ball-o-fat forever treading mill is not his whim …
For every time a C notes found forget the leprechaun, it’s Lucky’s day !
By: yesisedit,
on 1/17/2010
The old tale of Tortoise and Hare tells that falling asleep while doing a task is bad.
Jack the rabbit read it well, thought to himself, “the light this sheds is sad !”
No member of my global community is so lax, I’ll get that title back !
To that end he checked out the local Tortoise, Goggling on his computer for every fact.
He bought goggles and bomber cap from a site on the internet .
And while he was at it, found some sites and placed a few side bets.
The odds were good, in the turtles favor.
The money Jack knew he would soon savor !
Come race day the a crowd came out and the sun did shine.
The Tortoise was ready and Jackrabbit looked quite fine !
The race got started with a flurry and flash.
The rabbit was off like a shot but Tortoise got hung up in desert trash.
Jack was far out in front and in sight of the finish line .
But Coyote spied the race, thinking Tortoise and Hare would taste just fine.
Coyote joined in the race with turtle the first one he caught just rounding the bend.
Tortoise pulled up shy in his shell and, though Coyote knocked, would not let him come in.
So off Coyote sped to catch his other pray but Jack saw him coming and did not want to be Din Din.
As things often go the race was a bust and no body won.
Jack was diligent and did not sleep, so lived to have another son.
Tortoise, though he was slow, lived long and finally came out.
But Tortoise forgot what the race was about.
So when you hear another famous fable.
Just finish your spinach and clean up the crumbs before you leave the table.
So you may live long like Tortoise and Hare,
Though like Tortoise your mind may not be there.
And fast is good when you are fast as a bunny so you may outrun the danger.
Like Jackrabbit, you may have to change your course when chased by a stranger.
By: Rebecca,
on 5/28/2010
Is it me or does the week before a long weekend always go particularly slowly? Wednesday feels like a month ago. Luckily, despite my whining, Friday has arrived and so has Memorial Day Weekend. I hope you have lovely weather, delicious barbecues, and some time to relax with a good book. Below are some links to get you through the day. See you all on Tuesday!
Tina Fey wins the Mark Twain Prize for Humor!
Speaking of Mark Twain, here comes his autobiography.
Are we really friends with our friends?
Sequencing the bugs in our bodies.
A simple swab can save a life.
Do paywalls kill traffic?
The unicorn at Microsoft was real.
The Kagan kids.
Bookshelves to make you drool.
EMT’s in Massachusetts and New Hampshire faked their papers.
By: Kim Wheedleton,
on 6/3/2010
I have made no secret of my general dislike of most creatures of the insect persuasion.
Some of them creep me out.
Some of them boldly invade my home every spring as if they own the place.
Still others pester me to the brink of insanity.
In fact, I am firmly convinced that the Universe sends all manner of said Creepy-Crawlies marching into my humble abode purely for Its own fits and giggles. (And for the record? I am not amused. Do ya hear that, Universe? Not. Amused.)
By: yesisedit,
on 6/17/2010
Like some Japanese pine, I think heavy weights have been placed on some of my thoughts to try and bend them into “Correct” shape but my acid personality, I fear, probably has eaten away the wires that holds them in place and I keep going astray ”c)~
By: Becky,
on 7/1/2010
I Like Bugs. Lorena Siminovich. 2010. March 2010. Candlewick. 10 pages.
I'll be honest. I don't like bugs. But. I do like I Like Bugs. I like it so, so much! I Like Bugs is a touch-and-feel book and a counting book. What are we counting? Bugs, of course!
1 one dragonfly
2 two butterflies
3 three beetles
By: Kristin,
on 10/5/2010
By: Gigi Moore,
on 10/29/2010
Oh my, Andrea. How amazingly flattering that poem is. To hear how another experiences your artwork would be something so special. That certainly is a poem, a gift to treasure.
That IS a lovely poem! Very talented writer! Maybe you two should team up for a joint show some day.
That IS a lovely poem! Very talented writer! Maybe you two should team up for a joint show some day.
what a lovely poem! and what a precious gift that was for you, a true treasure. thank you for sharing it with us.
what a lovely poem! and what a precious gift that was for you, a true treasure. thank you for sharing it with us.
ps: love the drawing of "little things" as well .. so charming ;)
That's so beautiful and awesome!
Thanks, folks.
Yes, I was very touched. I love it. Cheers.