BIBSY CROSS AND THE CREEPY-CRAWLIES

Bibsy Cross tackles a science-related school assignment with her customary zeal.

Eight-year-old Bibsy and her third grade class are studying habitats. As usual, terse Mrs. Stumper “only ever explains the eensiest, teensiest bit of anything,” so Bibsy frequently interjects with comments and questions, much to her teacher’s barely disguised irritation. Still, not even stern Mrs. Stumper can quash Bibsy’s enthusiasm for the “plain ol’ wonder of science,” and she throws herself into things as the students learn about ecosystems at the local park and create self-sustaining terrariums out of recycled pickle jars filled with springtails, roly-polies, and other creepy-crawlies. Mrs. Stumper emphasizes the importance of being “exacting” in their work, and Bibsy frets as she notices issues such as mold plaguing the terrariums. She secretly devises a way to put things right—but will her plan lead to disaster? Beguiling Bibsy continues to captivate even as she lands herself in trouble. Her caring nature extends even to invertebrates, and she attempts to intervene when she sees a raccoon eating a crayfish at the park—prompting a lesson on food chains from Mrs. Stumper. Scanlon once more employs delicious turns of phrase in her beautifully crafted free verse as she pinpoints the seemingly small but very real worries that loom large for children. Ho’s lively, detailed grayscale line drawings, heightened with splashes of green, complement the exquisitely observed text. Bibsy is light-skinned; her class is diverse.

An imperfect protagonist who’s nevertheless perfectly charming.