The Insect Folk

Margaret Warner MorleyProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.4

Word count: 193K words
Chapters: 20

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.The Insect Folk by Margaret Warner MorleyAuthor: Morley, Margaret Warner, 1858-1923,Language: English, Class: QL: Science: Zoology, Release Date: Jul 8, 2006

Editor's review

This book, The Insect Folk, is a nature-observation reader written by Margaret Warner Morley for young readers. It falls under zoology and was originally released free of charge by Project Gutenberg. Its value lies not in offering systematic insect taxonomy but in guiding readers, through warm and accessible storytelling, into the insect world around them and stirring curiosity and the urge to observe nature. As an early popular-science work, its language is fairly literary and its pacing unhurried, carrying the patience and close attention characteristic of the natural-history tradition; it suits readers as an introduction to nature writing. The book presents the understanding of insects common in the author's time, so readers gain both engaging knowledge of insect habits and a sense of how early nature education emphasized direct experience and emotional connection. For families hoping to cultivate a child's observation of nature, or for readers interested in the natural-history tradition, this is a gentle and charming book. It is not recommended as a reference for verifying species; better to dip into it after outdoor observation, as a companion and extension.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Parents and teachers who want to guide children toward nature and cultivate an interest in observation
General readers interested in the natural-history tradition and early popular science
Readers who enjoy literary, unhurried popular-science writing
Learners who need English nature writing as extensive-reading material

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking systematic insect taxonomy or professional identification resources
Research-oriented readers expecting the latest findings of modern ecology
Readers accustomed to fast-paced, information-dense reading

Reading tips

First take children outdoors to observe one or two common insects, then return to the relevant passages for comparison.
Read only one or two chapters at a time, and after each, retell one insect trait in your own words to reinforce it.
Read it as a bedtime nature story, without chasing progress, focusing on the language and imagery.
When you meet older formulations, compare them with modern popular-science books and discuss how understanding has changed.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book suitable for children who know nothing about insects?

Yes, but reading together or an adult reading it first is recommended. The narration is literary and slow-paced, and a child reading alone may find the information not dense enough. Parents can read while taking the child outdoors to find the insects mentioned, matching words to real creatures, which makes interest easier to build.

Can the insect knowledge in this book still be taken as reliable today?

It should not be taken directly as reliable for identification or verification. The book was written long ago and reflects the understanding of its time; some terms and classifications differ from today's. It is better used as an introduction to nature writing, with specific species knowledge checked against modern popular-science books or field guides.

How difficult is the English, and what level of learner is it for?

The original is in English, fairly literary in style with unhurried sentences; it is not a deliberately simplified graded reader. It suits readers with some English reading foundation who want nature-themed extensive reading. There is no need to look up every obscure insect name; grasp the overall narrative.

Comments

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About the author

Margaret Warner Morley Author · American · 1858–1923

Margaret Warner Morley (1858–1923) was an American educator, biologist, and writer of natural-history literature for children. She was born in Montrose, Iowa, in 1858 and died in Washington in 1923. She graduated from Hunter College and studied biology at Armour Institute and the Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratory. Writing mainly for young readers, Morley produced works such as The Insect Folk, Little Mitchell: The Story of a Mountain Squirrel, and The Renewal of Life: How and When to Tell the Story to the Young, blending close observation of nature and biological knowledge with clear, accessible narrative. Some of these books were widely used as school texts, giving her a lasting influence in popular science and science education for children. Public information about her is limited, and she is known today chiefly through these works.