UGH! A BUG

In her debut, Bono scores a hit as she presents readers with the down-and-outs of sharing the world with insects; after all, “There will always be some bugs wherever you go.” In simple rhyming text, various bugs visit young children while readers are asked what they would do in a similar spot—“If a fly / wouldn’t split / when you swatted at it, / would you try to ignore it / or throw a big fit?” Along the way, she gives some advice about dealing with these sometimes-pesky creatures. Stay cool around a bee and she will leave you alone, but run for cover if you spy a mosquito. Bono ends on an educational note, making the point that in the great outdoors, we are invading their space, and that they far outnumber us. And most important, “bugs are happier when they are not in a jar.” The illustrations will enthrall readers, making up for occasional stumbles in the rhythm. They are a mixture of cartoon drawings and three-dimensional insects so lifelike they almost crawl, fly, and creep off the pages. While the scale and perspective of the drawings change widely from one page to the next, the color and detail are incredible. All in all, a delightfully fun look at the creatures of the outdoors from the perspectives of small children. (Picture book. 3-8)