Friday, June 13, 2014

Bug on a Bike by Chris Monroe -- OPTIONAL

Monroe, Chris Bug on a Bike. PICTURE BOOK. Carolrhoda Books, October 1, 2014. $16.95. Content: G.

Bug is headed to a surprise destination on his bike. As he rides along, he collects his friends. None of them know where he's going, but they're happy to follow along anyway. There are the ants on the log, and the polka dog dog, an athletic pickle, and a shiny nickel, among many others, all joining in on the journey to Bug's mysterious spot.

The cover and premise of the book seemed very cute and fun, and it was nice to see Bug wearing a splashy orange helmet as he rode. Unfortunately, the book itself did not live up to expectations. The text was much longer than it needed to be, with a huge cast of characters -- may of whom seemed to have been chosen more because their names rhymed than because they actually fit into the story. The rhyming itself was clunky in spots, and the illustrations often seemed amateurish and unpolished, especially compared to what the cover promised.

EL (K-3) -- OPTIONAL. Reviewer: Caryn

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