Oh my! National Moth Week is celebrating its 10 year anniversary this year — July 17 through 25, 2021 — with a call to young people around the world to learn about and observe moths in their local habitats.

This year we have the perfect picture book to read for National Moth Week: You’re Invited to a Moth Ball: A Nighttime Insect Celebration by Loree Burns and photographs by Ellen Harasimowicz.

What is a moth ball? It is a nighttime party to attract moths to your yard. Learn how to make a moth bait that will attract  buggy guests (recipe included). Or you can entice moths by hanging a sheet over a line with a light shining through (instructions included). Then wait for the guests to arrive!

The book is illustrated with lovely photographs taken at an actual moth party. They look like so much fun.

The back matter includes a photographer’s note with details about how Ellen Harasimowicz took the photographs at night (see her stunning portfolio), as well as an author’s note.

This book is absolutely lovely and inspiring, but I do have a caveat. The book shows great results attracting moths, but that might not be possible in every neighborhood and in every season. Research when moths are active in your area. Look for sites where it is safe to be out at night and also where there are enough trees and bushes to be food for moth caterpillars. If you’ve never done this before, you might want to check the National Moth Week events map and attend local events hosted by experts and hobbyists for best results. We’d love to hear from you if you do.

You’re Invited to a Moth Ball is a call to explore the moths that are at home in your neighborhood. It is perfect for budding entomologists and nature lovers. Investigate a copy today!

Related:

The Caterpillar Lab has a wealth of moth and butterfly images and information, such as their caterpillar guides.  They regularly post on Facebook Instagram and YouTube:

Try some of our Moth Blog Posts at Growing With Science:

See our growing list of children’s books about moths and butterflies at Science Books for Kids.

Reading age ‏ : ‎ 5 – 8 years
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Charlesbridge; Illustrated edition (April 7, 2020)
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1580896863
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1580896863

Disclosure: The book is my personal copy. Also, I am an affiliate with Amazon so I can provide you with cover images and links to more information about books and products. As you probably are aware, if you click through the highlighted title link and purchase a product, I will receive a very small commission, at no extra cost to you. Any proceeds help defray the costs of hosting and maintaining this website.