Helpin' Bugs - Softcover

Lonborg, Rosemary

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1890453048 ISBN 13: 9781890453046

Publisher: Little Friend Pr

Synopsis

Hanna's world had been turned upside down. A new baby brother, a new house, and a new neighborhood left her feeling sad and all alone. In this sensitive and brightly illustrated story, Hanna and Douglas share in the discovery of a delightful friendship and the responsibility of helpin' bugs! This book is ideally suited for story hour, the beginning reader and classroom discussions.

About this title

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1-Being new in the neighborhood is no fun. Hanna's parents don't need her help?her father is busy unpacking boxes, and her mother is feeding the baby. Then Hanna meets the strangely dressed boy next door. As Douglas is wearing a fireman's hat, sheriff's badge, cowboy boots, and backpack, Hanna concludes that he "must certainly be important." He invites her to join him in constructing a "bug village" out of leaves, sticks, and grass. At first glance, it is good to see a girl who isn't stereotypically squeamish about insects. On closer examination, however, one wishes Hanna would show a little initiative, as her sole desire seems to be one of wanting to help someone?anyone. Ironically, most of the help she thinks she is giving the bugs is probably only impeding them in their natural courses. In the end, she asks Douglas to decide what they should do the following day. While the game that the children play will be familiar to readers, it won't be enough to hold their interest. Oil paintings, while bright and colorful, are static, and the bland writing doesn't help.?Lisa Wu Stowe, Great Neck Library, NY
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Publishers Weekly

Hanna's feeling friendless, bored and in the way (Dad's busy unpacking at their new house and doesn't need her help; Mom's feeding baby brother), but things start looking up when she meets Douglas, the boy across the street. Together, the children make a bug village, garden, cafeteria (with cracker crumbs), hospital?even a bug marina, with a fleet of acorn-cap bug boats. By day's end, the foundation for a solid friendship has been laid, and Hanna has cleared moving's biggest hurdle. It's a familiar theme (albeit spiced up with the bug subplot) relayed in an artificially upbeat manner ("The little boy across the street must certainly be important, she thought. He wore a big, red fireman's hat, and a shiny, gold sheriff's badge.... He also wore a backpack that seemed to be filled with treasures"). Like the story, Houghton's warm if static oil paintings determinedly focus on suburbia's sunniest aspects. A little too pat to be of much comfort to readers facing similar situations. Ages 3-8.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Little Friend Pr
• ISBN 10: 1890453048
• ISBN 13: 9781890453046
• Binding: Paperback
• Illustrator: Diane R. Houghton