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Do you remember the "gross out" contests middle school students like to have? When I was a substitute teacher, the kids took great delight in telling me about things they had done with the hopes that they would totally "gross me out". If you have this age student in your family, I can assure you they will enjoy this week's books. The "kid" in all of us may enjoy these books.
Every driver has experienced the "splat" of a bug hitting their front window as they drive down our nation's highways and byways. Have you ever tried to identify bugs by the type "splat" left on your window? Actually, I'd be willing to guess that you never even thought of this as a possibility. Take That Gunk on Your Car with you on your next road trip. Let your spouse or your kids have the fun of trying to identify common insects by nothing but the size, shape, and color of the splat on your window. That Gunk on Your Car presents the life history of these insects: Ants, Antlions, Biting Midges, Black Flies, Butterflies and Moths, Caddisflies, Cicadas, Cockroaches, Crane Flies, Cucumber beetles, Dragonflies, Fireflies, Grasshoppers, Honey bees, Horse and Deer Flies, Hover Flies, Plant lice, Lacewings, Lovebugs, Midges, Mole crickets, Mosquitoes, Muscid Flies, and Soldier Flies. It even suggests some fun activities to try with each of these insect groups. You'll learn more than you want to know about many of these critters. There is a color plate section in the center of the book. Page deals with just one insect. There is a blue circle containing the "splat" and a size indicator to show you what it will look like on your car window along with a written description of the splat. A larger-than-life illustration of the insect, with a size indicator, and a black silhouette of the actual size of the insect completes the information provided. Flattened Fauna, Roger M. Knutson, Ten Speed Press, 1987. If your children prefer counting the flattened animals along the side of the road, then Flattened Fauna is the book for you. This book actually shows you pictures of various snakes, turtles, frogs and toads, birds, and mammals after they have been squashed by cars and baked in the sun. I was startled to learn that there are people who actually collect samples of these flattened animals! Sorry, but this definitely isn't the hobby for me!
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The copyright of the article Strange Books for the Traveler in Gardening Techniques is owned by Diana Pederson. Permission to republish Strange Books for the Traveler in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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