Some Bugs

"The illustrations for this book are rendered in almost everything imaginable," reads the note on the copyright page of this marvelous encyclopedic look at backyard entomology. What specificity is lacking in this materials citations, debut artist Wenzel more than makes up for in terms of conveying his artistic delight at depicting more than 45 bugs--from the glamorous Monarch butterfly to the leaping Lubber grasshopper, from the tiny pink aphid to the give-it-a-wide-berth scorpion. Even the most squeamish or squash-happy reader will find these critters easy to love. They live in relative harmony (although the endearingly odd Hercules beetles are spoiling for a fight) and busily go about their buggy tasks in the grass, on the wing, and around the pond with bright, eager bug eyes. "Some bugs build./ Some bugs make./ Some bugs hunt./ And some bugs take!" reads DiTerlizzi's (Say What?) jaunty verse as an ambitious armada of ants raids a picnic basket. So vivid are Wenzel's compositions that readers will feel transported to a summer day, when the air is musical and life is literally buzzing. Ages 4-8. Author's agent: Gotham Group. (Mar.)

PreS-K--Visually detailed, this solid offering offers brief descriptions of a variety of bugs. Mixed-media illustrations emphasize textures and patterns as the insects creep, inch, and flutter along each page. Various perspectives place the bugs as the dominant focus on the scene as they invade each spread. The crisp, rhyming text perfectly suits this fast-paced read-aloud. "Some bugs STING./Some bugs BITE./Some bugs STINK./And some bugs FIGHT!" The simple sentences emphasize the action and appearance of these creepy crawlies. Bold capitalized words highlight each specific sound and action. The bugs are viewed in a variety of outdoor settings, against a backdrop of striking leaves, thick branches, and on top of bubbling water. A dramatic final spread encourages young naturalists to explore the great outdoors. "So kneel/down close, /LOOK/very hard, /and find/SOME BUGS/in your backyard!" Colorful endpapers provide labeled drawings of dozens of bugs. DiTerlizzi demonstrates that it is a bug's world after all, and what a beautiful world indeed.--Meg Smith, Cumberland County Public Library, Fayetteville, NC