Jiri Kolibachas had a lifelong fascination with the natural sciences, particularly marine life and insects. As a child, he was fascinated by the natural sciences, especially sea life, and because he lived so far away from it, he studied the ecology of mammals (at the Czech Academy of Sciences), graduating with a doctoral degree in the zoology of vertebrates in 1992. Having published on beetles during his student days, Jiri returned to the Moravian Museum to focus on the paleontology and evolution of beetles. As an active sportsman, he enjoys kayaking, diving, skiing, and tending to his bonsai collection. He is currently the Head of Entomology at the Moravian Museum in Brno, Czech Republic. Pavel Dvorskyis a Czech commercial and graphic artist who has illustrated dozens of science and popular science publications. From 19661972, he studied Illustration at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague, and afterward returned to Brno, where he established the Department of Graphic Design and Illustration at the Secondary School for Art and Design. In reconstructing the prehistoric world, Dvorsky has collaborated with many anthropologists and archeologists. In addition to his commercial and graphic artwork, he has designed stamps for the Czech Post Office since 2004. He was born in Brno in 1946.
Selected for the CBC’s 2023 November Hot Off The Press Reading List (https://www.cbcbooks.org/cbc-book-lists/november-2023/) ""Anyone wishing to while away time with a most interesting look at insects will enjoy this book."" —Katrina Yurenka, Retired Librarian, Contributor, Youth Services Book Review (5 stars) ""This book is packed full of information. Scientific (but down-to-earth), well-researched and very thorough. Beautiful artistic renderings not only capture the insects, but also show them in their natural environments carrying out everyday activities."" —Erica Baxter, Goodreads ""This is a very thorough insect encyclopedia and has awesome artwork for each section. I think any child who loves bugs would find this fascinating."" —Michelle Smith, Goodreads ""A very useful illustration shows a large tree with relationships between the insect species and we get to see who is closest to being cousins. I've learned a lot from this book that includes a lot of chapters and beautiful illustrations not only dedicated to the different insect species but to giving us an insight into their dawn of times, evolution, reproduction, body structure, co-operations between species, strangest shapes, strange habits."" —Therearenobadbooks, Goodreads ""This book is full of great information and gorgeous illustrations of species of insects. It’ would be great for an insect study."" —Cheyenne S., NetGalley-Educator ""This is a gorgeous book. The full-page illustrations of each insect are stunning and detailed. The text has a ton of fascinating information."" —Shilo Q., NetGalley-Reviewer ""Insectopia: The Wonderful World of Insects is an oversized book suitable for display. It’s designed to attract readers of all ages with lovely illustrations by Pavla Dvorska and Pavel Dvorsky, which bring full-page wonder and exceptionally artistic efforts to illustrate many facts about the insect world. The combination of art and insect facts is lovely in a title replete with insights and beautiful images, designed to entertain and educate all in one. Libraries and readers will find it visually attractive and educationally alluring."" —Donovan’s Literary Services ""Insectopia is a beautifully illustrated all ages book about insects by Dr. Jiří Kolibáč and illustrated by Pavel and Pavla Dvorsky. The drawings are realistically rendered in color in pencil. The illustrations are anatomically detailed and the book/writing is also scientifically accurate and up to date. The author writes engagingly and accessibly, with simple language which will be easy for readers to understand. Although it's billed as juvenile non-fiction, all ages will find it interesting and educational. This would make a great choice for public or school library acquisition, for home use, or for gift giving to a bug-interested youngster."" —Annie, NetGalley-Reviewer ""The drawings are realistically rendered in color in pencil. The illustrations are anatomically detailed, some showing them in their natural environments. I recommend Insectopia: The Wonderful World of Insects to teachers and educators."" —Cherokee Crum, YA Books Central ""This book is teeming with life! Through full-colour, full-page detailed illustrations, that somehow feel both pastoral and sharply realistic, this book comes alive. Written in an engaging, conversational style, readers will be absorbed in The Wonderful World of Insects while learning complex information from mimicry and coexistence to the full range offeatures (like bugs’ scents). This book is both comprehensive and absorbing. This encyclopedia is aimed at readers 12 - 15, but younger audiences will love learning interesting facts (e.g. did you know that fireflies speak to each other in a kind of Morse Code through their flickering light?) and want to pour over the exceptional artwork. This book feels like a fresh-take on an encyclopedia — one thatcould sit out on the coffee table and be enjoyed by anyone who picks it up. Importantly, this book reminds readers how important even the teeniest animals is important to life on our planet—and by extension, why our perception matters!"" —Fairytales and Fingerpaints, IG ""Insectopia: The Wonderful World of Insects is a phenomenonal encyclopedia all about the lives of insects. This extra large book is packed with fascinating information, paired with absolutely gorgeous illustrations. It gives readers an in-depth look at a variety of insects, from their anatomy to their adaptations and everything in between. Best for a middle school audience and above, this is an excellent resource for any home or classroom. There's SO much to learn from this one!"" —Fun Reads for Kids, IG ""There is so much information packed into this book that it’s hard to pick out my favorite parts! Here’s why I recommend this one: It is broken into sections, including anatomy, biology, diversification, adaptation, courtship, and coexistence; Explains the importance of insects in our world; The illustrations are stunning and detailed!"" —Mr. J.S. Thornton, IG ""Insectopia is a treasure trove of information. Each two-page spread showcases a particular topic, devoting one page to exquisite illustration and one page to informational text. The text covers fascinating content and is captivating; you'll come away amazed at what you learned and surprised by how much you read - time stops when you are reading, so engrossing is the writing. This oversized book is interesting, provides vast detail ideal for middle grade readers, and covers extensive topics of interest. Insectopia is an impressive publication that I expect will be a hit with budding entomologists."" —Glass of Wine, Glass of Milk blog ""What a beautiful and valuable resource! Books can open up entire worlds to children (and grown-ups alike) as they give us glimpses into nature that we simply could not get on our own. Insects are so interesting and children are typically fascinated by them. This book allows us to take a closer look and learn about a variety of insects. The book is large format which makes the illustrations especially enjoyable!"" —Fill Your House with Books, IG