All About African Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches

Cockroaches are more than just the scary insects running across your kitchen floor at night. In fact, very few of the over 4,000 different cockroaches invade homes. The Madagascar hissing cockroach stays far away from people. They live on the famous island near the African coast. They get their name from the loud hissing sound they make. You can learn how they make this noise along with many other interesting facts about these unusual insects in All About the African Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches. Part of a series on Insects Around the World, this book is filled with full-color pictures and interesting information. So, if you are curious about one of the biggest cockroaches in the world, take a look!

Gr 3-5–Most of the insects in this series are rarely covered in children’s books. Titles feature straightforward descriptions of characteristics and behaviors, accompanied by large ­photographs spanning a page and a half. Unique qualities, like the Matabele ant’s termite predation and the popularity of mopane worms as food for humans, are highlighted. Though there is plenty of intriguing information, the presentations are not always smooth and complete. Readers learn how Madagascar hissing cockroaches hiss, for example, but nothing about how that aids their survival. Some text boxes pack in too many facts. Photographs capture the unusual aspects of each insect fairly well, though not all directly support the textual content. VERDICT Worth considering for comprehensive insect species coverage.--April 1, 2023, School Library Journal