All About African Mopane Worms

There's a special food that's a favorite for many people in Zimbabwe. It's the mopane worm! Served fried or in peanut sauce, the mopane worm is a popular dish. It's also harvested and sold across the world. Learn all about this tasty insect in All About African Mopane Worms. Part of a series on Insects Around the World, this book is filled with vibrant photos and detailed information to satisfy the insect-curious.

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