August 1, 1999
K-Gr 4-A collection of 15 poems that range from the truly disgusting to the humorous to the mildly amazing. The author and illustrator give these creatures bizarre personalities that are sure to tickle young entomologists' funny bones. A millipede is described as a pet for which the narrator ."..made five hundred pair/Of tiny silken slippers," while a roach is depicted as a clever bon vivant wearing a gas mask to ward off bug sprays and ignoring the roach motel set out nearby. Meanwhile, an army of ants, "Regimented, single file," stream into a kitchen, bearing on a pallet their "queen," who is decked out in appropriately regal attire. The watercolor illustrations portray many insects in human clothing, with plenty of sharp teeth and huge, buggy eyes. Set in an extra-large bold font, the poems range from four lines to several stanzas and each one of them goes for the laugh. Deep colors, especially in the backgrounds, and sweeping lines pump up the volume and help deliver the humor. The final page supplies some information about the species featured in the verses. For a creepy, crawly good time, pair this with Douglas Florian's Insectlopedia (Harcourt, 1998), which gives quite a different view of the insect kingdom.-Jane Marino, Scarsdale Public Library, NY
Copyright 1999 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.