CSIRO Publishing

November 2023

ISBN: 9781486317905

RRP: $24.99

I think this is a question that many of us have asked in recent years. I particularly requested this book, as in our new little house we have been seemingly in the epicentre of beetle activity lately. They come zooming in through our French doors and racket around each evening. At first, I did hope they might be Christmas beetles, but I fear it is more likely that they are brown cockchafers, which are far more common at this time of year, and nowhere near as sparkly.

Personally I’ve not seen a Christmas beetle (positively identified) for about four years, and it appears that this is a widespread issue across the nation. This charming picture book is not only entertaining but informative both around the lifecyle and characteristics of our iconic beetles, as well as the possible reasons for the apparent decline in our glittery critters.

With a bouncy rhyming text that Smalls will love, followed up by a double page of information plus a glossary, this is as much a treasure as the beetles themselves. The illustrations are equally outstanding and I adore the end papers which feature a plethora of the many species of Christmas beetles in all their sizes, shapes and iridescent hues.

This is a very timely book of course for this end of the year but, more importantly, will prompt many meaningful discussions around caring for our environment, the vanishing of species, and how we all can help protect our natural world. As well, there is such splendid opportunity for some science of the naturalist kind with topics of lifecycles, habitats and habits, characteristics and more.

Much of this could be suggested with the practical teaching notes provided. Get those bugcatchers out, and take your kiddos hunting out in the backyard, park, bush or playground.

It will be super-cool if they can actually find some Christmas beetles but it will just as valuable if they can find other species and try to identify them and compare.

Highly recommended for your budding entymologists from Prep upwards to around mid-primary.

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Australian Museum Christmas Beetles (including terrific factsheets)

Australian Museum: How to Identify a Christmas Beetle

Australian Museum: Where Have all the Christmas beetles gone?

Backyard Buddies Christmas Beetles

Minibeast Wildlife Christmas Beetles

Twinkl Parts of a Christmas Beetle labelling activity

Gardening4Kids Christmas Beetles – with some fun activities