Review: Some Bugs by Angela DiTerlizzi, illustrated by Brendan Wenzel

Some Bugs by Angela Diterlizzi

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
(see below for detailed rating)


We begin this review with the consideration of why Brendan Wenzel's illustrations are so damn cute. Cuteness researcher (really an ethologist) Konrad Lorenz identified a set of traits that cause human beings to think something is cute. We're apparently hardwired for it. Large head, large eyes, rounded shape all contribute to the cuteness factor, and Brendan Wenzel's animals have it in spades.

I'm not just talking about the bugs in this book, either. Wenzel has done illustrations of bazillions of animals for conservation organizations and companies promoting the welfare of animals.

The text itself is readable and provides plenty of fodder for thoughtful K-2 teachers (verbs! -ing suffix! pattern text to write!), but Wenzel's art is what really distinguishes this selection. I have not yet met one child who doesn't adore it, no matter if they love bugs or not. It's just that good -- and considering it was blurbed by Eric Carle, I think that says something. I will not hesitate to say every library serving children of any age needs this book.

Watch the book trailer.

Ratings start at 5 out of 10 (perfectly acceptable) and go up or down from there.

Awesomeness: 9. It doesn't get much better than this.
Wordsmithing: 7. Simple is hard. This is done very well.
Personages: 8. Considering there is no dialogue, the ladybug and her compatriots have a whole lot of personality.
Mesmerizitude: 9. We've read it at least a dozen times since I brought it home from the library.
Illustrations: 10. Bright, beautiful, detailed and kid-friendly.
Factfulness: 6. The only information here is the kind that comes from observation - but there is plenty of that to be had.

Other reviews: Jean Little Library | Sagging Bookshelves | Kate's Bookery | Teach Preschool

Check out this interview with Diterlizzi at Mr Schu's.

More about Brendan Wenzel: The Plucky Ones | Ninunina

View all my reviews

Library Loot: Caldecott 2015 hopefuls, plus one

This week's Library Loot are nearly all selections from my 2015 Caldecott long list. I seem to have terrible predictive powers, but I'll enjoy sharing them with my kids.

Baby Bear - Kadir Nelson
Abuelo - Arthur Dorros
Bad Bye, Good Bye - Deborah Underwood
Gaston - Kelly DiPucchio
Elizabeth Queen of the Seas - Lynne Cox
Gravity - Jason Chin
Following Papa's Song - Gianna Marino
Galapagos George - Jean Craighead George
Emily's Blue Period - Cathleen Daly
Some Bugs - Angela DiTerlizzi
Have You Seen My Dragon? - Steve Light
Tiny Rabbit's Big Wish - Margarita Engle
The Watermelon Seed - Greg Pizzoli
Ball - Mary Sullivan
Hi, Koo!: A Year of Seasons - Jon Muth
Bad Apple: A Tale of Friendship - Edward Hemingway
Nest - Jorey Hurley
Brother Hugo and the Bear - Katy Beebe
Extraordinary Jane - Hannah Harrison

The last book, pictured on the right, is my sole novel, Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein.  I have seriously fallen down on my chapter book reading in the past three years, but I'm determined to pick it up again.  What better choice that a book full of literary references and puzzles?

We already checked out a bunch of Caldecott hopefuls over the summer and read them, so I'll add them to my compiled list and share that in a few weeks.

Thanks to Linda at Silly Little Mischief for hosting Library Loot this week.