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Cricket in the Thicket: Poems about Bugs
Cricket in the Thicket: Poems about Bugs
Reviewed by: Jan Hamilton - Little Dolphin School, Scarborough, Southern Maine Library District
Review Date: August 7, 2017
Review
Certain to be loved by future entomologist this book will also inform, entertain, and surprise those who declare they dislike bugs. The leading roles go to the grasshopper and firefly as they each are featured in two page spreads. All twenty five insects have their moment in the sun as Murray captures their habits with humor and Sweet illustrated their habitat with color. The text and illustrations work together in harmony offered a wonderful experience to children of all ages. It is Sweet's detailed collage technique that may well make this a winning title in 2017.
The cover will bring readers to the text in a nonthreatening breath of fresh air. Each creature is treated gently in both poetry and illustration. OK, perhaps the spider is a little frightening but the cicada’s smile will win over any negative vibes. The book contains cricket notes which continues learning in and out of the classroom. Art teaches will add this to their collections and classroom teachers will use in poetry and science instructional units. Most important, many children will want this for personal bug research as well as search and rescue missions.
Overall Book Score: excellent
About the Book
Author:
Murray, Carol
Illustrator: Sweet, Melissa
Illustration Quality: excellent
Publisher: Christy Ottaviano Books (Henry Holt & Co.)
Book Type: picture book nonfiction
Genre: fiction in verse / poetry
Audience: preschool,grades k-3,grades 4-6
Binding Type: reinforced trade binding
Binding Quality: good
ISBN: 9780805098181
Price: 17.99
This Book's Maine Connection: Maine illustrator