Have You Seen Bugs? Joanne Oppenheim. Illustrated by Ron Broda. Richmond Hill, Ontario: North Winds Press, 1996. 32pp. paper, $16.99 ISBN 0-590-24322-5. Grades preschool - 2 / Ages 4 - 7. Review by Naomi Gerrard ****/4

excerpt:

"Have you seen bugs?
Itty-bitty bugs small as specks of sand,
wide-winged bugs bigger than your hand.
Bugs with stripes or speckles or spots,
shiny like metal or covered with dots.
Iridescent bugs that shimmer in the light,
winking, blinking bugs that twinkle in the night.
Dark as bark, green as grass, see-through bugs with wings like glass."

Even though the paper sculpted male African moon moth on the front cover looks like a creature from outer space inviting attention, this is a fascinating book for bug lovers; and, perhaps even for those who dislike bugs. It is illustrated with incredible, three-dimensional paper sculptures of bugs; iridescent, winking, blinking, shimmering and twinkling. They are everywhere: playing hide-and-seek, "shaped like thorns or sticks or leaves", long legged or having thousands of legs, fluttering, scurrying, diving, buzzing, swimming under water, skimming over water. The book is full of bug lingo, imagery, colour, names, and the sounds of bugs, including a comparison between bugs and insects.

The layout of the book is attractive, full of activities allowing one to take a big breath and touch the bugs on these pages without hesitation or fear. The narrative is well planned, descriptive and rhythmic using age appropriate language.

Recommended

Naomi Gerrard has been fascinated with children's literature for years, is a reviewer for the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Award and a member of CANSCAIP.

If you would like to order Have You Seen Bugs? please fill out the form below:

Number of copies at $16.99 CDN softcover

Method of payment:

Bill me at address below
Visa expiry date
Mastercard expiry date

Invoice Library/School Division/Company
Billing Address
P.O. Number

Shipping and handling. In Canada $4.75 CDN. Other countries - at cost.

Contact information:

Your name

E-mail address

Mailing address

City

Province/State

Country

Postal Code

If you would like to order other books, have special instructions or need more information,please fill in the area below. We will contact you with price and availability.

Copyright © 1996 the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.

Published by
The Manitoba Library Association
ISSN 1201-9364