Bugs and Nature – Page 2 – Sneak Peek Books

Because a Little Bug Went Ka-CHOO!

Just one “KA-CHOO” causes a whole chain of hilarity, from a splashing turtle to a wet hen, to a flying policeman, a sinking boat, and just about everyone crashing a circus parade! “Because that seed dropped, a worm got mad. Because he got mad, he kicked a tree. Because of that kick. . .” Turn the pages and find out what could possibly happen next!

Because a Little Bug Went Ka-CHOO! is a simple story that shows a chain reaction of cause and effect. The silly characters range from an angry worm to Farmer Brown and even a flying policeman. The simple story is perfect for beginning readers because every sentence uses the same format and only a few new words are introduced on each page. As part of the I Can Read It Myself Beginning Book Series, young readers should be able to read the book on their own.

The full-page illustrations are bright, hilarious, and have fun details. Each page adds more characters—soon cows, chickens, Farmer Brown, police officers, and even a fish follow the action to see what will happen next. Readers will have fun finding all of the familiar characters on each page. From a fish riding a motorcycle to a blue elephant in the sky, the characters will keep young readers engaged.

Because each page has 1 to 2 simple sentences that have rhythm, Because a Little Bug Went Ka-CHOO! makes a great story to read aloud. The combination of simple sentences and funny illustrations will have young children reading Because a Little Bug Went Ka-CHOO! again and again. The book allows beginning readers to gain confidence in reading. As readers follow the chaos that one little sneeze causes, they will learn that reading can be fun.

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Violence

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Drugs and Alcohol

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Supernatural

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On Beyond Bugs!

The Cat in the Hat, Thing 1, and Thing 2 go on a journey looking for the millions of bugs that live in the world. The Cat in the Hat introduces readers to all sorts of bugs from praying mantis, to grasshoppers, and even butterflies. The Cat in the Hat tells readers interesting facts about the bugs he meets. With the help of a magnifying glass, the smaller bugs grow large enough that readers can distinguish each bug’s differences. Fleas, bees, and bugs in trees all inhabit the world, and with the Cat in the Hat, readers will learn all sorts of interesting facts.

Cat in the Hat uses Thing 1 and Thing 2 to introduce bug facts. For example, they hold up a sign that reads, “Spiders aren’t insects! This news couldn’t wait! Instead of six legs, every spider has eight!” All of the bugs are labeled and some pages have diagrams of bug body parts. The book’s format makes it easy for readers to identify bugs and their body parts.

On Beyond Bugs uses full-page illustrations with bright colors to introduce all types of bugs. Each bug’s unique features are shown through pictures. For example, an underwing moth blends into a tree’s bark, and a spittlebug hides from birds by covering itself with spit bubbles. Some of the illustrations are humorous, such as when the queen bee is being taken care of by the worker bees.

On Beyond Bugs is intended to introduce beginning readers to the importance of basic concepts about the world. Each page has 2 to 4 rhyming sentences. Readers will enjoy seeing the Cat in the Hat, Thing 1, and Thing 2 throughout the story. The end of the book has a seven-word glossary and a list of books that bug lovers might want to read.

Young readers will enjoy the colorful illustrations and learning about bugs. However, every two-page spread introduces a new insect, which some readers may find overwhelming. On Beyond Bugs teaches the importance of learning about bugs because “The world that we know couldn’t go on without them. The butterfly, ladybug, ant, and the bee make everything better . . . for you. . . and for me!”

Sexual Content

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Violence

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Drugs and Alcohol

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Supernatural

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The Bug Girl (a true story)

Sophia loves bugs. When she was in kindergarten, some of her friends would hunt for bugs with her. But as she got older, kids began teasing her because she was a “bug lover.” Sophia was teased so much that she packed all of her bug stuff into boxes. This made her sad.

Then Sophia’s mom sent an email to a bug scientist. The entomologist Morgan Jackson wrote Sophia, encouraging her to keep studying bugs. When Morgan shared Sophia’s story, other bug scientists also helped Sophia see that loving bugs is not weird or strange. Today, Sophia is a fourth-grader who still loves bugs.

Each page of the picture book has large illustrations that look like watercolors. As Sophia’s classmates grow older and begin to tease her, the illustrations show Sophia’s sadness both in facial expressions and in dark colors. Most pages have 5 to 7 sentences as well as speech bubbles. Even with so few sentences, some pages are text-heavy which may make it difficult for younger readers to sit through a reading. Even though The Bug Girl is a picture book, the story is intended to be read aloud to a child rather than for a child to read it for the first time independently. The end of the book has general information on bugs as well as “super-cool bug facts.” In addition, the book explains the cycle of the butterfly and how to study bugs in the wild.

Any child who has been called weird will relate to Sophia’s struggle. Her story allows readers to see that having a unique hobby is not strange. Sophia realizes that there are many people who love bugs. This realization allows Sophia to enjoy studying bugs without feeling like there is something wrong with her. The Bug Girl will encourage readers to embrace being different and to continue doing what they enjoy, even if others make fun of them. The Bug Girl is a must-read for any child who loves bugs. If you’re looking for another book that encourages children to embrace their differences, add Angus All Aglow by Heather Smith to your reading list.

Sexual Content

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Violence

When Sophia takes a grasshopper to school, “a bunch of kids crowded around me and made fun of me. . . Then they knocked that beautiful grasshopper off my shoulder and stomped on it till it was dead.”

Drugs and Alcohol

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Language

Sophia’s classmates tease her and call her names such as show-off, bug lover, and weird. The kids wonder, “Why doesn’t she like regular things?

Supernatural

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Spiritual Content

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Guyku: A Year of Haiku for Boys

Guyku is the right story for little guys on the move!

The collection of poems captures moments of childhood across the four seasons. From fishing to throwing snowballs to playing in leaf piles, Guyku touches on the wide variety of outdoor activities that kids can do. The book is written for boys, like the title suggests, but it is applicable to all children.

Poetry can have a reputation that it is something you give to advanced readers. However, Guyku flips that notion on its head and helps young readers learn through poetry. Because each poem occupies a full page, the poems are not daunting for new readers.

Raczka and Reynolds are an author-illustrator team who are very much on the same page. The pen, ink, and watercolor illustrations capture the simplicity of the poems and the Earth-toned colors take the reader outdoors. These illustrations accompany every poem, and context clues will help struggling readers make sense of the poems. The art is subtle and encourages the reader to explore the meaning of the poem and ask questions. The eye-catching illustrations will make you laugh as you watch boys, and girls explore the outdoors and enjoy childhood. While the book is generally goofy, the illustrations do not shy away from showing an array of emotions from glee to sadness and boredom to enthrallment. Guyku does a good job of normalizing the range of feelings that people encounter, but there is an emphasis on the excitement and wonder of childhood.

Haiku poems are only three lines long; they have five syllables in the first line, seven in the second line, and five in the third line. A haiku is an observation of nature, and nature is a playground for children. The poems do not take long to read, but sometimes more can be said in a haiku than a whole novel. One of the primary rules of a haiku is that it is written in the present tense. Whatever is happening in a haiku, is happening right now! For children who are wrapped up in the moment, the format of the poem lends itself to being active. The book can serve as inspiration for the wide variety of games that can be played, activities to do with friends, and ways to interact with the outdoors.

Guyku is for kids and about kids. All of the characters are children who are doing what children do best, playing! While the poetry moves quickly and the illustrations are fun, there is a reflective part to these poems. The book encourages children to place themselves within all of the great things the outdoors has to offer and brings into question how the outdoors makes the reader feel. It is likely that a child will see themselves in the characters of the book. Guyku encourages outdoor activity in a positive way.

Sexual Content

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Drugs and Alcohol

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by Paul Gordon

The Garden That We Grew

Two kids decide to plant a garden. They have everything that they need: a patch of soil, a bunch of seeds, and a warm sunny sky. They make sure their plants can grow by watering and weeding. As the days go by, their plants peek out of the soil and eventually turn into large pumpkins. The kids harvest the pumpkins and use them to make pie and cookies. They also make jack-o-lanterns! The kids have so much fun that they decide to save the seeds so they can grow pumpkins next year.

The Garden That We Grow is perfect for early readers. Each page has large, cartoon-like illustrations that show the kids working in their garden. Most of the pages have one simple sentence that uses rhyming, familiar words, and visual clues to help readers. Almost every page begins with “these are the. . .” The repetition will help young readers feel confident in their ability to read.

With a simple plot and colorful illustrations, The Garden That We Grow will entertain readers as well as teach them the steps of growing a garden. After reading the story, readers will want to plant a garden of their own. More advanced readers will be bored by the story’s repetition and simple sentences. Young readers who want to learn more about gardening should add We Are the Gardeners by Joanna Gaines to their reading list.

Sexual Content

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Violence

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Drugs and Alcohol

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Supernatural

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Mortimer’s First Garden

Winter is just ending, the sky is gray, and the ground is brown. Little Mortimer Mouse munches on sunflower seeds and longs to see some green.

Upon overhearing the story of how springtime rain and sunshine nurtures little seeds to grow into great big green plants, Mortimer is skeptical, but decides to plant one of his seeds just to see if such a miracle really can happen. Mortimer finds a perfect spot to plant the seed, and then. . . he waits. And waits. And waits.

Impatient, Mortimer thinks nothing is ever going to happen to the little seed. But then something does happen. Something wonderful. Something divine. Something green! Mortimer discovers the miracle of springtime.

Mortimer’s First Garden is a wonderful story about discovering the wonders of gardening. As he waits for his sunflower to appear, Mortimer weeds, waters and cares for his growing plant. Through Mortimer’s experiences, readers will discover the joy of planting and caring for seeds and the excitement of growing a garden.

Mortimer’s environment comes to life in colorful, full-page illustrations. The illustrations are colored with muted spring colors and show the beauty of spring. Readers will fall in love with the little mouse, as he waits for his flower to grow. Readers will relate to Mortimer’s impatience, and smile when Mortimer tells God, “I wouldn’t mind a friend to help me eat these [seeds].” Just when Mortimer needs it, a friendly spider appears and the two friends snuggle down to sleep. Some readers may wonder why a spider would make a good friend for Mortimer. However, this would be an excellent opportunity to discuss the beneficial qualities of spiders.

Each page of Mortimer’s First Garden has 1-6 simple sentences that use repetition, onomatopoeia, and alliteration. The simple story is intended to be read aloud to a child, rather than for the child to read it for the first time independently. Both the text and the pictures combine into an engaging story that highlights the miracle of a seed. Parents who are looking for more books that encourage children to plant a garden should also read We Are the Gardeners by Joanna Gaines.

Sexual Content

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Drugs and Alcohol

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Supernatural

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Spiritual Content

Mortimer hears a voice whisper, “Wait.” At first, Mortimer doesn’t know who spoke. But then, “Mortimer felt warm and protected. Then Mortimer knew the voice. Mortimer bowed his head. ‘I will wait, God. But please, make my seed grow.’”
When Mortimer’s seed begins to grow, he says, “Thank you, God!”
When Mortimer sees the sunflower, he says, “It is a miracle! Thank you, God!”
After all the seeds have been harvested, Mortimer prays, “And please, God, I wouldn’t mind a friend to help me eat these.”

We Are the Gardeners

In We Are the Gardeners, Joanna, and the kids chronicle the adventures of starting their own family garden. From their failed endeavors, obstacles to overcome (bunnies that eat everything!), and all the knowledge they’ve gained along the way, the Gaines family shares how they learned to grow a happy, successful garden. As it turns out, trying something new isn’t always easy, but the hardest work often yields the greatest reward. There are always new lessons to be learned in the garden!

Told through both text and words, We Are the Gardeners shows the steps to becoming a successful gardener. The full-page illustrations burst with all the colors of the garden, from the bright red of tomatoes to all the greens of the plants. The illustrations are beautiful and show the joys of gardening—digging in the dirt, picking seeds, and taking time to splash in the sprinkler. Readers will enjoy seeing children helping by watering plants, weeding, and eating the fruits of their labor.

The cheerful story doesn’t only focus on all of the positive aspects of gardening. Instead, the story also shows the failures, including a dying plant and animals feasting. However, the failures are shown as learning experiences. When a plant dies, the text reads, “Some people tell themselves they are no good at something after one small failure. But no chance were we going to give up that easy.”

Readers will learn where to put a garden, the importance of pollinators, how to identify beneficial and harmful bugs, and more. However, We Are the Gardeners also teaches important life lessons, such as using books to learn, making a plan, and “every setback and failure teaches us something.”

Even though We Are the Gardeners is a picture book, the story is intended to be read aloud to a child, rather than for a child to read it for the first time independently. Most pages contain 1 to 3 complex sentences and some difficult vocabulary. However, We Are the Gardeners would make a perfect springtime story to read to younger children. We Are the Gardeners will inspire readers to find the perfect place to put a potted plant or make a garden of their own.

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