Crawly School for Bugs: Poems to Drive You Buggy

A cheerful way to make a connection with the natural world.

Writing in rhyme, Harrison imagines a day at a school for insects, who take classes in camouflage, try to control their predatory instincts, and visit the nurse, a mosquito whose prescription for any ailment is to draw blood. Using both traditional and digital media, Bayless offers comedic scenes of anthropomorphic insects decked out in clothes with room for all of their arms. A horsefly stares glumly at a report card that lists a D- for social skills ("Even though/ I feel remorse, / I must go out/ and bite a horse"), and in "bird class" an array of bugs stand still as can be in the grass as an avian shadow looms ("Don't twitch a leg./ Don't shift a wing./ Don't turn your head./ Don't move a thing!"). Readers' school days will look downright dull by comparison. Ages 5-9. Illustrator's agent: John Cusick, Folio Literary Management. (Mar.)

Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

PreS-Gr 3--Poetry and bugs are brought together in this humorously wacky book. Readers will wish they were students at "Crawly School," where there are classes dedicated to camouflage and the nurse is a mosquito (the solution to every ill: "I'd better take some blood"). This collection will delight young readers and teachers who are in need of entertaining ways to introduce students to poetry. Most of the verses rhyme and all are light reads. The illustrations match the poems perfectly, with fine details that personify the bugs being featured. For example, the mosquito nurse is wearing scrubs and teacher bugs are always carrying around grade books and wearing studious glasses. VERDICT Consider for poetry units wherever humor is in demand.--Molly Dettmann, Moore Public Library, OK

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

"Poetry and bugs are brought together in this humorously wacky book. This collection will delight young readers and teachers who are in need of entertaining ways to introduce students to poetry. The illustrations match the poems perfectly...for poetry units wherever humor is in demand." -School Library Journal

"Twenty lighthearted poems imagine the goings-on at insect school. Graceful and humorous, these short poems allude to typical behaviors. With deftly constructed rhyme and rhythm patterns, lively language, and alliteration, his poems have immediate appeal. They're splendidly matched by whimsical cartoons that reward a second look. A cheerful way to make a connection with the natural world." - Kirkus Reviews

"Writing in rhyme, Harrison imagines a day at a school for insects...Using both traditional and digital media, Bayless offers comedic scenes of anthropomorphic insects decked out in clothes with room for all of their arms. Readers' school days will look downright dull by comparison." -Publishers Weekly

"Peppy color illustrations and amusing verse combine in this entertaining collection. The lively rhymes nicely complement the delightful, animated multimedia art... with witty, scrutiny-inviting details. (K)ids... will...enjoy the references and humor." - Booklist

"Readers won't have to call an exterminator when they open this collection of bug-filled poems. Though the creepy crawlies on the pages have lots of legs and beady eyes, they cheerily share their wisdom through sweet and silly rhymes. Stink bugs, termites, horse flies, and ticks are brought to life in watercolor, ink, and colored pencil illustrations. The traditional meets comic book blended format offers readers a unique visual experience. Not only does this book bring a bunch of chuckles, it would make an entertaining read aloud and serve well as a mentor text for teaching various poetic devices." - School Library Connection