Bugs are Back!

Spring is here…and that means that it is time for our annual story time about bugs.  Some things stay the same and some things are different.  I found some really good books this year and the audience was great, singing and rhyming and laughing in all the right places!  I dug out my old paper puppet ladybugs and we did "Two Little Ladybugs" and for our craft each child created a set of his or her very own.  That part was the same, as were the songs and rhymes.

Here are the books we read:

Yoo-Hoo, Ladybug! by Mem Fox
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book is so much fun to read aloud, and so engaging to a small story time audience.  Each page shows very detailed illustration in which a lady bug is hiding.  There is a call, "Yoo Hoo! Lady bug where are you?" and the hunt is on.  Turn the page and the reader is given textual hints to pin point her location.  Great fun and very engaging.

Butterfly Kiss by Marcial Boo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A beautifully illustrated story of the butterfly, Kiss, who sets off to find a new home.  He meets all sorts of other animals, none of whom want a kiss.  He does finally find a home…with an old man and his grandchild.  My story time audience loved this gentle story especially the gorgeous illustrations.

One Bear with Bees in His Hair by Jakki Wood
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
With bouncy, rhyming text and bold colorful illustrations this is a charming counting book about ten happy, hide and seek playing bears.  With lots of opportunities to engage a story time audience, this one ends in a cool guessing game.

I Love Bugs! by Emma Dodd
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What a fun book about bugs!  My story time audience loved the large bouncy text and wonderfully kid-friendly illustrations.  Lots of great adjectives and "sound" words help the reader do what the young boy in the story is doing, enter the world of bugs.  This is a great read-aloud!