As a self-confessed entomophile, I was really excited to be accepted for this ARC… and it didn’t disappoint. Insect Anatomy is a detailed and engaging book, suitable for all ages and anyone with an interest in insects. It covers everything from fun facts to more in-depth scientific information, all presented in a way that’s easy to digest.

The layout is clear and well thought out, and the illustrations are beautiful. It is both aesthetically pleasing and practical for identification.

I read the digital version, but I’ll definitely be buying a physical copy, as I imagine it’s even more impactful in print and will make a great reference to return to again and again. 5 stars!

Ordinarily, I wouldn’t give five stars to a books I did not finish, but I loved this book and I would have finished, but my download expired and I missed the deadline to renew it.

That said, the visual representation in this book was so vividly detailed, aiding the learning process tremendously. I loved the overall whimsical approach, which I hope will appeal to those who aren’t always willing to give insects a chance! This book is packed full of educational material, and is especially perfect for entomology beginners.

When I am financially able, I will be buying myself a copy of this, as I really do want to finish it, plus I think it’s an exceptional resource to have on.

My son and I LOVED this book so much!!!

The illustrations were so good. I think I cried so many times because of how beautiful they were. The details on each drawing were so on point. My son usually preferred real photos, but many times we reread this book, he always said he loved the drawings. Never once did he mention the real pictures.

We (my son and I) could easily spend hours just devouring this book. Every time we read it, we find something new.

200+ pages full of beauty and knowledge.

Thank you to Julia Rothman, Michael Hearst, Storey Publishing, and NetGalley for the ARC.

This is a beautiful, beautiful book that your students will want to sit with for hours. For those of you who are starting back to school tomorrow and are feeling that stress, I can recommend time with this title as an anxiety reducer (for kids and adults).
Insect Anatomy is full of detailed illustrations (not photos) of all kinds of bugs and has tons of fascinating information about them. Did you know that the frequency of cricket chirps can help you estimate outside temperature?
The book is logically divided into sections, including a chapter on superlative insects (biggest, longest, etc). This would be a terrific text to sit with after a class walk outside. If you've identified a creature using an app, then you can find out more about it here. Be prepared for students poring over this and then regaling you with their knowledge.
Huge kudos to Storey Publishing for publishing non-fiction texts that are beautiful and encourage the reader to want to learn more. Pair this one with a sketchbook and a magnifying glass as a gift.

Julia Rothman was first introduced to me via a book stand at a Tractor Supply. Her sticker books grabbed my attention and I ended up bringing a copy of the 'Nature Anatomy ' sticker book home. I was smitten with her style, it's so realistic while also having a tough of whimsy. This is the first actual book I've read of hers, and I will be seeking out a physical copy to add to my home library soon.

Book Review: Anatomy: The Curious World of Bees, Beetles, Butterflies, and Bugs by Julia Rothman (with Michael Hearst credited)

Rating: 5 Stars

I just finished Insect Anatomy: The Curious World of Bees, Beetles, Butterflies, and Bugs by Julia Rothman (with Michael Hearst credited), and I’m honestly smitten. This is a five-star gem that manages to be fun, informative, and perfectly pitched for curious young readers (and adults who love a clever, well-designed nature book).

At a glance, the book is a lively, close-up tour of the insect world. Rothman breaks down the massive diversity of tiny creatures—bees, beetles, butterflies, ants, spiders and other arthropods—into bite-sized, approachable sections. She explains why insects matter (think pollination and decomposition) and shows how their bodies and behaviors make them fundamental to the planet’s ecosystems. The text never feels dry or overloaded; complex ideas get translated into clear, memorable snippets that stick without talking down to the reader.

What really sells this book, though, are the visuals and the layout. The pages are a delight: clean, colorful illustrations that communicate anatomy and behavior in the most charming, informative way. Facts are arranged in short callouts and little boxed sections, so there’s always a neat rhythm to reading—plenty to explore at a glance, and more to savor if you want to linger. The structure prevents information from feeling overwhelming, which is especially important for kids soaking up new science-y concepts.

As a parent, I appreciated how the material balances accuracy with accessibility. You can tell it was created for young minds without simplifying to the point of losing nuance. It’s the kind of book that invites questions and follow-up adventures—good for bedtime reading, school projects, or just browsing on a rainy afternoon.

In short: informative, and gorgeously illustrated. I’d recommend it to any child fascinated by the tiny creatures all around us—or to anyone who wants a compact, joyful primer on why insects are so essential. Five stars.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

Second book of the series that I read and second book that I loved. You have to have a very broad domain of biology to create a book like this, which covers not only the different families of insects but also species from all continents, from the most beloved and visible, such as butterflies, to the most hated, and that all of them pick your curiosity and it even makes you see with good eyes those that are plagues. All very visual, with great summaries and very detailed illustrations, which will delight both entomologists with children and animal-loving children.

As in the previous book, I miss having additional material for those who are more curious, such as a list of species with their scientific names so that the kids with more desire to deepen their knowledge can go on from there.

PS. I think she likes dragonflies a lot, because they come out several times.

Holy Bugs, Beetles, and Aphids Batman!

I loved the illustrations of this book! Definitely a book for the kid in class that loves bugs and insects!

This is also a great informational book if you want your students to be able to do lite research on their very insect. The information is not overwhelming and is presented in a sort of fun, whimsical illustrations that makes the info easy to digest. I also liked how it explained all of the animals species/animal kingdom relationships to other living organisms - both old and ‘new’ life forms.

I would highly recommend for any classroom of young to mid elementary students!

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.

This is an amazing book for kids who are interested in insects (why they would be, though, I don't know). Seriously, though, bugs? I'm okay learning about them in books, but that's about all. However, it's good that there are people interested in bugs, especially with all the diseases they carry.

Love how the information in here is presented in a way that is easily digestible to children. There is so much in here, but nothing becomes too overwhelming, as it is broken up into different segments.

The illustrations are absolutely amazing. I would definitely recommend this book!

Insect Anatomy is not just a gorgeous illustrated guide to insect anatomy but also a fantastic resource for discovering new kinds of insects and a plethora of facts about them. This book is so much more than an anatomical reference. Anyone interested in entomology, regardless of experience or knowledge level, would benefit greatly from adding this to their shelves!

As always, a quick thank you to the publisher, Storey Publishing. Thank you to NetGalley for facilitating the exchange of this ARC. Lastly, thank you to my readers for sticking with me!

This book was so informative! Each page taught me so much, and I loved every second of it. You’ll benefit from a re-read (or several) to truly digest all the information given, but with all the pretty artwork and the easy-to-read writing style, that won’t feel like a chore at all.

Speaking of the illustrations, they are stunning. I would hang most of them up on my wall. One that really stuck with me was Rothman’s drawing of an orchid mantis (my favorite species of mantis.)

You can absolutely feel the passion in the artwork and writing both. Everything is so beautiful and fascinating and I found myself feeling so sad when I finished it because there wasn’t any more. I already miss the pages going in-depth about how ant colonies function…

I truthfully cannot recommend this book enough. Pick it up! It could make a great gift for any entomologist or artist in your life, or a fantastic way to treat yourself.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC! This book contains stunning artwork and a lot of in-depth information about insects. It was a joy to read. I can't wait to purchase my own copy.

Publishing date: 02.09.2025 (DD/MM/YYYY)
Thank you to NetGalley and Storey Publishing for the ARC. My opinions are my own.

Do you like bugs? Do you like learning about bugs? Then this is for you!

You get:
- Beautiful illustrations
- A look into the lifecycle of bugs
- Anatomy
- Different species
- To-size illustrations of some of the larger bugs (this does not work on digital editions)
- Defense mechanisms

This book is fitting of all ages, and anyone interested in bugs. Even just those who love beautiful illustrations.

I adore bugs. All colors, shapes, and sizes. And I adored this book just as much. 5 stars, beautiful, highly recommend.

Another amazing addition to our family's home library! Insect Anatomy joins the beloved ranks of the other "anatomy" books from Rothman in my kids' hearts. Getting to learn about all of the delightfully creepy crawlies of the world with such gorgeous illustrations is a treat, and I know this book will be referenced and explored for a long time to come!

Another incredible book by Julia Rothman!

I was so excited to receive an eARC of this book from the publisher on NetGalley! My family has been enjoying Julia Rothman’s books for years and we can’t wait to add this one to the collection when it comes out in September.

This book is great for multiple ages—it’s engaging for little kiddos who aren’t reading yet, great for middle grade and still fun for older kids and adults that love to learn! Highly recommend to families and libraries!

My kids absolutely love this series and we were so excited to see that a new one was coming out. The illustrations are beautiful and my kids were fascinated with it. Will definitely buy a hard copy of it.

One of my goals this year has been to read more nonfiction, and as a nature and insect enthusiast, I was immediately drawn to this book by its unique and beautiful cover.

The illustrations are absolutely stunning and gave me so much inspiration, especially as an artist who frequently draws bugs myself.
The content is both informative, and presented in a way that’s easily digestible and fun. It’s the kind of book you can flip through for a quick burst of knowledge, or sit with for hours soaking in the beautiful art.

I can’t wait to add a physical copy to my collection when it’s published!
5 Stars. ⭐️

What’s your favorite niche subject to read about? Mine is definitely nature. 🪲🌿🌸

I am thankful to NetGalley for an e-arc copy of this book.

This is a wonderful book. It's truly full of useful and interesting information, and the illustrations make it even richer. I looked through it with my niece, who loves insects and bugs, and since she’s only six years old and Italian, she didn’t understand everything, even though I summarized the main parts for her. She loved it—she really enjoyed the illustrations and was very interested in the anatomical sections and the eggs. She especially liked the brightly colored insects and felt a bit sad that they don’t exist in nature where we live.
I hope it will be translated into Italian—I'll definitely buy it for her as a gift. I recommend this book to anyone who loves spending time outdoors, to those who are fascinated by bugs and insects, and also to anyone passionate about illustrations, because these are truly wonderful. It might also be appreciated by people who enjoy painting, as it could serve as great inspiration.

My daughter (age 10) and I sat down and flipped through Insect Anatomy together, and as with all the books in the series, we found the illustrations highly engaging. She said that the pictures were beautiful and that the whole book made bugs seem less “intimidating” (her word choice) and more interesting! I must say, I agree. Like other books in the series, Insect Anatomy is not necessarily a title to be read cover to cover in sequence, but can be equally enjoyed as a reference or simply paged through at random. Along with chapters highlighting different types of insects and how insects grow and develop, there is also a section with suggested hands-on activities. This book is full in interesting tidbits of information, pleasingly presented in hand drawn and painted info-graphics. There is a small portion mentioning “millions of years” and evolutionary history, as well as a couple pages on insects and climate change, but that is to be expected in this sort of book and are both so small as to be negligible in a book with so much other great content to enjoy.

Overall, Insect Anatomy would make a great addition to anyone’s nature study library or science shelf, and I don’t think there is any age limit for enjoying this book! I believe it would be a fun read for the bug enthusiast and the bug “skeptic” alike.

A super informative book for all things insect and things that you thought were insects but aren't (and it tells you why!) Great illustrations and layout - the sort of book that a kid could spend hours pouring over and then return to time and again after finding something crawly out in the garden.

I hate bugs and insects, but I love this series of books. You learn a ton and the illustrations are great. I think they would make amazing fabric patterns.