The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
	The Bulletin Dozen is a monthly theme-based booklist available as an online-only Bulletin feature. Since we're awfully fond of bakers here at the Bulletin, we thought we'd adopt their philosophy of generosity and throw in an extra one or two when we have them to offer--so don't expect an even dozen. Please feel free to copy, download, or link to these lists. We ask only that you cite the source. See the archive for lists from previous months.
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Creepy Crawlies: Spiders and Insects for Young Readers --selected by Hope Morrison However you feel about these six- and eight-legged creatures, there's no denying that they've been crawling through children's stories and information books for a long while.  Welcome their return after a long winter with these skin-scratching, back-tickling tales of fact and fiction.!

• Ehlert, Lois. Waiting for Wings; written and illus. by Lois Ehlert.  Harcourt, 2001.  4-7 yrs
  This rhymed introduction to the life cycle of a caterpillar-turned-butterfly comes vividly alive in Ehlert's explosively bold graphic style. (BCCB 4/01)



• Fleischman, Paul.  Joyful Noise:  Poems for Two Voices; illus. by Eric Beddows. Harper, 1988.  Gr. 4-6
  The symphony of insect buzzes and drones is vocally recalled in this collection of fourteen poems written for oral reading by two voices. Winner of the 1989 Newbery medal.  (BCCB 2/88)



• Florian, Douglas. Insectlopedia; written and illus. by Douglas Florian.  Harcourt, 1998.  Gr. 3-6
  Florian's characteristically witty poetic expositions focus on bugs and spiders in this deftly illustrated collection of rhymed verse. (7/98)



• Greenberg, David T.  Bugs!; illus. by Lynn Munsinger.  Little, 1997.  4-8 yrs
  Those listeners who can handle the squeamish suggestions of these skin-crawling rhymes will revel in the repulsively entertaining verses. (BCCB 11/97)



• Horowitz, Ruth. Breakout at the Bug Lab; illus. by Joan Holub.  Dial, 2001.  Gr. 1-3
  An entomologist mother and an escaped hissing cockroach provide the setup for this energetic romp of a bug-hunt. (BCCB 7/01)  The story continues with Horowitz's recent Big Surprise in the Bug Tank. (BCCB 1/05)



• McDonald, Megan.  Beetle McGrady Eats Bugs!; illus. by Jane Manning.  Greenwillow, 2005.  5-8 yrs
  After foolishly promising to eat a bug at recess, Beetle is humiliated by her own inability to swallow the creeping critter.  Fortunately, the opportunity to redeem herself is close at hand. (BCCB 5/05)



• McDonald, Megan.  Insects Are My Life; illus. by Paul Brett Johnson.  Jackson/Orchard, 1995.  5-8 yrs
  When Amanda starts school, her deep affection for bugs is completely misunderstood by her classmates, until she meets Maggie, who loves reptiles as much as Amanda adores insects. (BCCB 4/95)



• McKelvey, Douglas Kaine.  Locust Pocus!:  A Book to Bug You; illus. by Richard Egielski.  Philomel, 2001.  5-9 yrs
  The snappy couplets in this humorous poetic collection move rapidly from creature to creature, offering a wide range of buggy verse and splashy watercolor art. (BCCB 6/01)



• Montgomery, Sy.  The Tarantula Scientist; illus. with photographs by Nic Bishop.  Houghton, 2004.  Gr. 4-8
  Arachnologist Sam Marshall is the featured subject of this "Scientists in the Field" offering, which follows his work with tarantulas and other spiders in the jungles of French Guiana.  Breathtaking glossy photos offer an up-close-and-personal glimpse of the arachnids at work and play.



• Palatini, Margie.  The Perfect Pet; illus. by Bruce Whatley. HarperCollins, 2003.  5-8 yrs
  After her parents' refusal to obtain a horse, a dog, or a cat, Elizabeth finds the perfect pet, a bug called Doug, when she almost steps on him. (BCCB 5/03)



• Pichon, Liz.  The Very Ugly Bug; written and illus. by Liz Pichon.  Tiger Tales, 2005.  4-7 yrs
  Sorely lacking the camouflage capabilities of her other insect friends, the very ugly bug creates a disguise.  Fortunately, while her costume makes her even more noticeable, the birds flying by find her so repulsive they don't want to eat her. (BCCB 5/05)



• Sayre, April Pulley.  Army Ant Parade; illus. by Rick Chrustowski.  Holt, 2002. 4-7 yrs
  This science book for the very young offers small listeners the present-tense-perspective of campers in a Panamanian rain forest overrun by a swarm of marching army ants. (BCCB 3/02)



• Spinelli, Eileen.  Sophie's Masterpiece:  A Spider's Tale; illus. by Jane Dyer.  Simon, 2001.  5-9 yrs
  Most humans don't appreciate the wondrous webs that Sophie can weave, but when a young mother cannot afford a blanket for her infant, Sophie weaves her one of moonlight, lullabies, snowflakes, and fragrant pine. (BCCB 7/01)

This page was last updated on May 1, 2005.

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