Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

A bug disrupts her bog’s food chain—or does she? A happy-go-lucky bug (egg-shaped and yellow, with orange stripes) “bobs on a log” as bubbles float—and “POP!”—from the muddy bog below. She sings and “thinks happy things.” Unicorn-bugs, rainbows, and sunshine appear in her pink thought bubble. “Trouble” is the last thing on her mind. Then a frog arrives in the bog. He gives the bug “a slick, slimy smile” and envisions cooking her up for a “yummy” meal. The bug seems unfazed. She even waves to the frog. Suddenly, a fog rolls in and obscures the two characters from view. There’s a “CHOMP!” and a “CHEW!” and a “SLURP!” and a “SWALLOW!” The fog slowly and dramatically dissipates, revealing a surprise twist: The bug is now over twice her size and “full of frog!” Rhyming, almost singsong text buoys the economical and often alliterative vocabulary of around 70 words and their variants. The line spacing—at most seven lines of text per double-page spread—helps emerging readers keep up with the fun. Fenske’s bright colors and cartoon illustrations add to the friendly tone and humorous plot. Though careful readers may guess the outcome from the bug’s nonchalant attitude, the omniscient narrator’s warnings (“if that bug were me, I’d leave that bog on the double!”) help the ending feel like a genuine surprise. (This book was reviewed digitally with 9-by-12-inch double-page spreads viewed at 57.6% of actual size.) A winning role reversal. (Early reader. 3-7) Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

A bug disrupts her bogs food chainor does she?A happy-go-lucky bug (egg-shaped and yellow, with orange stripes) bobs on a log as bubbles floatand POP!from the muddy bog below. She sings and thinks happy things. Unicorn-bugs, rainbows, and sunshine appear in her pink thought bubble. Trouble is the last thing on her mind. Then a frog arrives in the bog. He gives the bug a slick, slimy smile and envisions cooking her up for a yummy meal. The bug seems unfazed. She even waves to the frog. Suddenly, a fog rolls in and obscures the two characters from view. Theres a CHOMP! and a CHEW! and a SLURP! and a SWALLOW! The fog slowly and dramatically dissipates, revealing a surprise twist: The bug is now over twice her size and full of frog! Rhyming, almost singsong text buoys the economical and often alliterative vocabulary of around 70 words and their variants. The line spacingat most seven lines of text per double-page spreadhelps emerging readers keep up with the fun. Fenskes bright colors and cartoon illustrations add to the friendly tone and humorous plot. Though careful readers may guess the outcome from the bugs nonchalant attitude, the omniscient narrators warnings (if that bug were me, Id leave that bog on the double!) help the ending feel like a genuine surprise. (This book was reviewed digitally with 9-by-12-inch double-page spreads viewed at 57.6% of actual size.)A winning role reversal. (Early reader. 3-7) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Horn Book
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

In this darkly funny early reader in rhyme, the cheerful titular bug doesn't seem to be long for this world when a frog shows up in the bog; the simply drawn, expressive cartoon illustrations show the frog eyeing the bug hungrily and even donning a bib. A fog obscures a moment that seems to be the end of our insect friend, but that boldly lettered "CHOMP!" and "CHEW!" might not mean what readers assume at first. Simple rhymes, repeated words, and brief lines of text in large print make for an effective easy reader, and the decoding work pays off in a story with humor, suspense, and nearly singable meter ("See the bug in the bog. // See the bug on a log. / See the bug watch / the muddy bog bubble. // The bug sits. / The bug sings. / The bug thinks / happy things, // never dreaming / there could be some trouble"). It could also lend itself to a lesson plan about making predictions -- if one doesn't mind having one's predictions upended in the silliest way possible. (Burp.) (c) Copyright 2021. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Horn Book
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

In this darkly funny early reader in rhyme, the cheerful titular bug doesn't seem to be long for this world when a frog shows up in the bog; the simply drawn, expressive cartoon illustrations show the frog eyeing the bug hungrily and even donning a bib. A fog obscures a moment that seems to be the end of our insect friend, but that boldly lettered "CHOMP!" and "CHEW!" might not mean what readers assume at first. Simple rhymes, repeated words, and brief lines of text in large print make for an effective easy reader, and the decoding work pays off in a story with humor, suspense, and nearly singable meter ("See the bug in the bog. // See the bug on a log. / See the bug watch / the muddy bog bubble. // The bug sits. / The bug sings. / The bug thinks / happy things, // never dreaming / there could be some trouble"). It could also lend itself to a lesson plan about making predictions -- if one doesn't mind having one's predictions upended in the silliest way possible. (Burp.) (c) Copyright 2023. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.