Bye-Bye, Big Bad Bullybug!

The building of suspense should appeal to very young listeners, who also might be attracted to the accessibility of the minimal text and who will welcome a new Monster to the neighborhood.

PreS-Gr 2 As in his Go Away, Big Green Monster! (Little, Brown, 2005), Emberley gradually assembles, via die cuts, a mean and scary "Big Bad Bullybug" from outer space who threatens to bite, pinch, and tickle itty-bitty baby bugs. Luckily for the small fliers, a human with a huge sneaker is willing to do away with the pink-polka-dotted meanie. The cobalt blue backgrounds create a grand contrast for the electric greens, oranges, and yellows that dominate the bug parts. Despite the visual panache of the giant foot, it seems a shame that the bullybug couldn't learn a lesson instead of being "skwooshed!" Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA Copyright 2007 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.