Learn how insects adapt to thrive in all kinds of environments in this colorful nonfiction book! How do insects survive in different environments? Insects are masters of adaptation! Insect Adaptations: Mouthparts, Mimicry, and Flying introduces readers 5 to 8 to the wild world of insect adaptations. Grasshoppers bound on their long, springlike legs to escape predators in the tall grass. The giant swallowtail caterpillar avoids being eaten by looking like poop. But stick insects blend in with their surroundings so no one even sees them! How do insects adapt in the first place? Through natural selection, which happens as survival traits are passed down through many generations. Insects with characteristics that help them survive live long enough to reproduce and pass those characteristics down to their offspring. Traits that don't help with survival appear less and less often in the population. The species has adapted! Scientific concepts including biological evolution, heredity, and ecology come clear with engaging illustrations and lots of familiar, real-life examples. An introductory poem offers language arts connections while a hands-on activity at the end reinforces concepts in the book.

A glossary and photographs offer even more learning opportunities. Insect Adaptations: Mouthparts, Mimicry, and Flying is part of an eight-book set of Picture Book Science books designed to introduce young scientists to environmental science. Other titles include Plant Adaptations: Shallow Roots, Thick Stalks, and Poison and Microbe Adaptations: Glowing Lights, Hot Vents, and Large Numbers. All books are leveled for Guided Reading level and Lexile and align with Common Core state standards and Next Generation Science Standards. All titles are available in paperback, hardcover, and ebook formats.