Pest In Show

April 29, 2013
In this zippy sibling story, Jamieson (Olympig!) literally gives the familiar figure of a pesky little brother wingsâand six legs. Ladybug, an aspiring diva, is preparing for her Backyard Theater debut and has no patience for her annoying younger brother, Fly, who wants in on the act. "Can I be in your show?" he begs. "Please? Please? Please?" But Fly persists, enlisting help from some spider buddies, and he manages to sabotage Ladybug's singing and dancing while taking center stage with his own routines. For the grand finale, Ladybug and Fly face off in a performance worthy of a curtain call. Jamieson's gleeful homage to Broadway contains several numbers composed by the likes of Earwig van Beethoven and Tim Lice, which blend familiar children's songs with pest-centric lyrics ("We're icky, sticky spiders" to the tune of "The Itsy Bitsy Spider," for instance). The bug puns are spot-on throughout the text and the energetic collage-and-acrylic compositions. Posters on the endpages (advertising "Thoroughly Modern Millipede," "Bugspray," "My Fair Ladybug," and other fare) are a bonus for theater-loving adults. Ages 3â5. Agent: Paul Rodeen, Rodeen Literary Management.

April 1, 2013
Backyard insect thespians Ladybug and her pesky younger brother Fly compete to star in this hilarious pun-filled performance, sure to tickle the fancy of fun- and pun-loving youngsters and would-be young stars. Although some of the allusions (Bugspray, Pestside Story and Thoroughly Modern Millipede) may be over their heads, children will surely identify with the competition between siblings and recognize the parodies of "classic" songs. "Spiders," composed by Wolfspider Amadeus Mozart, is sung to the tune of "The Itsy Bitsy Spider," for instance, and "Ladybug," by Earwig van Beethoven, to the tune of "The Wheels on the Bus." Theatrically lit acts include a supporting cast of costumed ladybugs, butterflies, spiders, assorted bugs and even worms. A playbill complete with appropriately themed advertisements adds to the fun. Jamieson's collage-and-acrylic illustrations revel in the goofiness, clothing Ladybug in a frilly red dress with black polka dots and a feathery pink boa and plastering an irritating little-brother grin all over Fly's face. The Busby Berkeley- inspired "Ladybug" number is hysterical. As Roger Fleabert's blurb on the book's cover says, "Six thumbs up!" This silly read-, dance- and sing-aloud could be a smash hit. (Picture book. 3-7)

COPYRIGHT(2013) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

June 1, 2013

K-Gr 3-The idea of a ladybug and a fly being sister and brother is just the beginning of the silliness in this tale of sibling one-upmanship. Ladybug wants to be the star of her backyard theater show, but her kid brother desperately craves the spotlight. While Ladybug sings and dances, Fly and his friends take over the stage. Finally the siblings challenge each other to a dance-off, which is a hit with the audience. The text is brimming with buggy puns, wordplay, reworked classics ("I'm Housefly the garbage man," set to the tune of "Popeye the Sailor Man," is the standout), matched in tone by Jamieson's brash collage and acrylic cartoons.-Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, MD

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.