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.
	Download a printer-friendly PDF version This Bulletin Dozen is formatted as a double-sided, tri-fold brochure. Select double-sided option when printing or print out both pages and photocopy accordingly. PDF (Portable Document Format) files are read using Adobe's Acrobat Reader. Download a free copy of Acrobat or read more information on downloading PDFs.

Buzz, hop, splat!:  A Buggy Dozen --selected by Kate Quealy-Gainer, Assistant Editor Springtime is here and what better way to celebrate than to pay homage to those most unwelcome and pesky springtime visitors, bugs.  Perhaps our bibliographic ode will prevent the little stinkers from infesting our garden.  One can dream ...

• Collins, Suzanne. Gregor the Overlander. Scholastic, 2003. Gr. 4-6

  Giant sentient spiders and oversized but somewhat less sentient cockroaches are just a few of the strange creatures that eleven-year-old Gregor encounters after he falls down a laundry chute into the mysterious Underland. Prophesied to be the savior of this underground world, Gregor must lead a ragtag band of humans and insects against an army of rats if he ever wants to see the Overland again. (BCCB 1/04)

• Cronin, Doreen. Diary of a Worm. Joanna Cotler Books, 2003.  Gr.2-4

  The daily trials and tribulations of our plucky protagonist, a baseball capped Worm, are chronicled here by giggle worthy diary entries complete with wormy mementos and photos. (BCCB 10/03)

• Ehlert, Lois. Waiting for Wings. Harcourt, 2001. 4-7 yrs

  Lovers of springtime gardens will rejoice in a riot of colorful illustrations and gently rhyming text that traces a butterfly’s life cycle from eggs to caterpillar to cocoon and finally to flight. Bold purple blossoms contrast with the rich greens of foliage to create an idyllic pastoral scene while the butterflies themselves are placed front and center in this homage to the natural process. (BCCB 4/01)

• Fleming, Denise. Beetle Bop; written and illus. by Denise Fleming. Harcourt, 2007.  3-5 yrs

  Richly textured illustrations accompany a rhythmic text playfully lays out different types of beetles according to size, color, and behavior. Young listeners will surely be beetle bopping their way through storytime with this charming read-aloud. (BCCB 9/07)

  
  

• Markle, Sandra. Sneaky, Spinning, Baby Spiders; illus. with photographs. Walker and Company, 2008.    Gr. 2-5

  The word cute is hardly ever followed by the word spiders, but readers may find themselves “awing” (as opposed to “ewing”) as they page through these detailed, up close photos that track the life cycle of spiders, starting with the birth of spiderlings. An engaging and informative text discusses the process of spider reproduction and growth and youngsters who come for the photos will most likely stay for the engaging science lesson. (BCCB 11/08)

  
  

• McKelvey, Douglas Kaine. Locust Pocus!: A Book to Bug You!; illus. by Richard Egielski. Philomel, 2001. 5-9 yrs

  A full range of insects, from buzzing bees to scuttling roaches, are individually made immortal by winsome couplets in this easily accessible jaunt into poetry. Oversized watercolor illustrations manage to make the bugs look simultaneously creepy and cute, creating an inviting viewing experience for youngsters. (BCCB 6/01)

   
  

• Miller, Healther Lynn. This Is Your Life Cycle; illus. by Michael Chesworth. Clarion, 2008.    Gr. 3-6

  In this funny and buggy take on the classic TV game show, Dahlia the Dragonfly takes a walk down memory lane (with a little help from the charming host, Bob Beetle, of course) and revisits her time as a hatchling, a nymph, and eventually a predatory adult. Biology nerds and drama dorks alike will enjoy this campy but informative look at the dragonfly’s life cycle. (BCCB 9/08)

  
  

• Murawski, Darlyne A. Face to face with Caterpillars; written and illus. with photographs by Darlyne A. Murawski. National Geographic, 2007.    Gr. 3-5

  National Geographic’s stellar Face to face series takes a look at the lovably transformative creature, the caterpillar. Readers will discover, however, that the caterpillars’ ability to turn into butterflies, is far from their most fascinating feature, as the books examines ones that can spew poison, disguise themselves as spiders, or perform daring acrobatic leaps from branch to branch. Stunning up close photographs accompany the informative text. (BCCB 9/07)

  
  

• Nye, Naomi Shihab. Honeybee. Greenwillow, 2008.    Gr. 10 and up

  The complex communication system of honeybees acts as a connective thread in Nye’s collection of eighty-two poems for young people. Diverse in both format and topic, with subjects ranging from the Iraq war to first loves represented in free verse and prose poems, this anthology offers teenagers a lyrical and thought provoking read. (BCCB 4/08)

  
  

• Pichon, Liz. The Very Ugly Bug. Tiger Tales, 2005.    4-7 yrs

  The very ugly bug would give anything to look like the other bugs with their tiny eyes, smooth skin, and shiny blue wings. When it turns out, however, that her less than appealing appearance has its benefits, including appearing less than palatable to a local predator, the little bug feels pretty lucky to be so ugly. (BCCB 5/05)

• Reynolds, Aaron. Joey Fly, Private Eye, in Creepy Crawly Crime; illus. by Neil Numberman. Holt, 2009.    Gr. 4-7

  Bug City is a rough place and no one knows that better than Joey Fly, private eye, and his surly scorpion assistant, Sammy Stingtail. When a pretty dame hires them to find her stolen diamond pencil box, the pair delves even deeper into the shadowy underworld to uncover the ugly truth. This graphic novel has all the allure of your classic noir detective story, along with some insect humor for laughs. (BCCB 5/09)

• Schneider, Howie. Wilky the White House Cockroach; written and illus. by Howie Schneider. Putnam, 2006.    5-8 yrs

  Despite his family’s warnings that he’ll end up as a stain on the wall, Wilky the cockroach decides to hop a ride in a pizza box that hhappens to be going to the White House. Political shenanigans ensue with Wilky narrowly escaping White House staffers and world leaders alike until they offer him a deal he can’t refuse. (BCCB 1/07)

  
  
  

This page was last updated on April 1, 2010.