Micro Monsters
(Extreme Encounters with Invisible Armies)
By Nam Nguyen
2010, Kingfisher, Macmillan Books

Review by Debra Louise Scott

Micro Monsters takes a video game format for its layout about the tiniest denizens of the insect kingdom, including bacteria and viruses. It’s geared for the child who can handle a bit more advanced scientific knowledge than the usual preschooler.

The bug featured on the page is shown in several different situations with callout blocks to identify different parts and what they do. There are insets with video game verbiage: One has Superpower, Equipment, Weakness and Fact, the other has a block scale for Intelligence, Strength, Speed, Agility, Endurance, and Evasion. There are also web page style tab insets that have more information. Some pages have a pullback flap with an electron microscope picture of some feature of the bug.

There is a glossary in the back, but not an index, which is a shame for such a knowledge packed book. The chapter titles are cryptic and don’t necessarily tell you what you’ll find in them.

It’s well done, but definitely technical. The photos are very detailed and will encourage the young entomologist to look carefully at the world around her/him. ( )