(Photo of Mae-Mae by my son, Kid Rawley)

You know who loves bugs and insects? That chicken, right there. She keeps the place tidy. Also? Did you know… 

Entomology (think “ant”) is the study of bugs and insects, but etymology is the study of words? It’s good to remember that one. 

Did you know that spiders are not insects! Yes, yes I did. (Did you know that we have Black Widow Spiders in the Willamette Valley in Oregon, where I live? I did not know that until we moved here but wow, I do now!)

Did you know that the fossils of the first dragonflies date back to the Carboniferous Period? That was almost 360 million years ago. Whoa.

“Amazing Insects Around the World,” from DGPH Studio, will give you all kinds of cool information about buggy bugs. (Penguin Workshop/Penguin Random House, 2023, all ages, $17.99.) Stellar little encyclopedia.

Its companion book, also from DGPH Studios, “Amazing Animals Around the World” is awesome, too. (Penguin Workshop/Penguin Random House, 2023, all ages, $17.99.)

Zara (from “Zara’s Rules for Record-Breaking Fun” and “Zara’s Rules for Finding Hidden Treasure”) is back, in “Zara’s Rules for Living Your Best Life.” (Salaam Reads/Simon & Schuster, scheduled for release 4/19/2023, grades 2-5, $17.99.) This is a great series by Hena Khan (“Amina’s Voice”), with a spunky, not-too-sweet main character. In this chapter book, Zara has spring break plans — fun plans! — with her friends. But things tend to change, and now Z and her brother, also Z (Zayd) have to hang out with their grandparents. How will this go?

“I Am Temple Grandin,” by Brad Meltzer, illustrated by Christopher Eliopoulos, is from the Ordinary People Change the World Series. (Rocky Pond Books/Penguin Random House, 2023, all ages, $16.99.) Great biography (in a graphic novel format for younger readers) about the scientist/animal behaviorist/neurodiversity advocate who has autism.