A Snowy Day in Bugland!

December 1, 2012

K-Gr 1-Carter introduces beginning readers to things wintry and bug-related, such as Snowflake Bugs, a Thermometer Bug, and Icicle Bugs. Bitsy Bee wakes up one morning to find that it has snowed overnight. She can't wait to explore, but Mama Bug insists that she dress accordingly. "The Coat and Mitten Bugs keep Bitsy warm." Her friend Busy Bug is sledding outside, and Bitsy takes her first ride on a sled. Before the end of the day, Busy has been hit in the head with a Snowball Bug and he and Bitsy build a Snowman Bug. The lack of plot and the overabundance of bugs interfere with the book's early-reader potential. It's unclear why even inanimate objects, like snowballs, are brought to life and given eyes. The actions feel disconnected, with Bitsy's activities and locations changing quickly from spread to spread without focus or climax. The text is simple enough for beginning readers, with no more than two sentences on a page, but it includes an awkward attempt at rhyme. The bright, color illustrations take up the majority of each page, although the detailed backgrounds are more attractive than the anthropomorphized bugs with enormous eyes. This odd title will have a hard time finding a home in most collections.-Marian McLeod, Darien Library, CT

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.