Twig

April 23, 2018
Australian newcomer Parker creates delicate ink-and-watercolor spreads of an elaborate, cheerful school for insects. Dozens of softly tinted, many-legged students (Parker is going for decorative value more than accuracy, although many of the insects are identifiable) head for Bug School among the trees of the forest. New students to any school sometimes feel invisible, but Heidi really is. She’s a stick insect, and because she appears to be made out of wood in a forest school full of trees, the other students don’t see her. Miss Orb, the teacher, hangs her weaving on Heidi, who looks, at that moment, just like the coat rack she’s standing next to. It’s not until one of the students tries to insert Heidi into an art project that Heidi explodes at last: “I’m not a twig! I’m me! I’m Heidi!” Teachers usually make a point of introducing new students to the class, but whether or not readers buy that Heidi would be overlooked for so long, they’ll take pleasure in Parker’s imaginative forest world, with its parades and tea parties, brimming with insect-school fun. Ages 4–8.

June 1, 2018

PreS-Gr 2-This sweet story about a stick insect who blends in a little too well on her first day of school will resonate with shy readers. Heidi's twiglike body is such effective camouflage in the outdoor classroom setting, she goes unnoticed until one of her fellow students unwittingly attempts to use her as a craft supply. Once she gathers the courage to announce herself, the others realize their oversight and seek to solve the problem. They welcome her by weaving her a multicolored scarf that increases her visibility, and include her in their play from that point on. Soft watercolors with delicate lines complement the gentle tone of the story, and beautifully detailed illustrations invite readers to examine the unique patterns on each insect's wings and search for a hidden Heidi on each spread. With just a few sentences per page, the text flows smoothly and makes for an appealing storytime read-aloud. A surefire hit with budding entomologists, this book will also spark conversation about wordplay (hide and Heidi), as well as compassion, friendship, and problem-solving. VERDICT With its uplifting themes of kindness, collaboration, and inclusion, this title is a welcome addition to picture book collections.-Allison Tran, Mission Viejo Library, CA

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2018
A stick insect's camouflage makes it hard for her to find friends--or, really, for them to find her. A variety of students arrive at Bug School for classes with Miss Orb, but not one notices Heidi, who is brown and thin, exactly like a twig or the class hat stand, which Miss Orb mistakes her for when she hangs up her weaving. Heidi's camouflage is so good, in fact, that she's unseen through the class counting lesson, lunch, and recess. Readers will empathize with her, her crossed arms (all four of them), hunched shoulders, and drooped face expressing her emotion clearly (if they can spy her!). It's not until Miss Orb teaches weaving and Scarlett, a ladybug, goes searching for interesting items to add to her project that Heidi (mistaken for a twig) is finally discovered. Miss Orb has the perfect welcoming activity: weaving a colorful scarf for Heidi so she's not so hidden. It's just the ticket for helping her feel part of the group. Readers may note that games with her new friends seem to emphasize what tall and slender Heidi can do for them (reach things, be a bridge, etc.) rather than what she wants to do...except when it comes to playing hide-and-seek. Parker's watercolor, colored pencil, artline pens, and digital compositions are quite delicate and detailed, her bug school delightfully analogous to children's own. A lesson in camouflage and in welcoming new friends. (Picture book. 4-8)

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May 15, 2018
Preschool-G Heidi's excitement for her first day of bug school dwindles when she is soundly ignored by her classmates and teacher, despite her efforts to participate in lessons and playground activities. Kids will surely sympathize with Heidi's plight, but they'll also be tickled by the running visual joke that Heidi is overlooked simply because she blends in with her surroundings. Heidi, an adorable stick insect with leafy pigtails, is mistaken for the classroom coatrack and rendered virtually invisible at recess, what with all the trees and twigs around. Parker's whimsical illustrations (created with watercolor, colored pencils, and pen) are full of activity and detail, and readers will enjoy hunting for Heidi in each scene. She finally snaps when a classmate tries to use her in an art project, stunning everyone with her indignant shout and excellent camouflage. Luckily, her teacher has an idea that helps Heidi stand out, and she finally gets the warm bug-school welcome she hoped for. Sweet and captivatingly illustrated, this pairs perfectly with Carson Ellis' Du Iz Tak? (2016).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)