A Beetle Is Shy

by Dianna Hutts Aston, Sylvia Long (Illustrator)

Overview

The award-winning duo of Dianna Hutts Aston and Sylvia Long team up again, this time creating a gorgeous look at the fascinating world of beetles. From flea beetles to bombardier beetles, an incredible variety of these beloved bugs are showcased here in all their splendor. Poetic in voice and elegant in design, this carefully researched and visually striking book is perfect for sparking children's imaginations in both classroom reading circles and home libraries.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781452127125
Publisher:	Chronicle Books LLC
Publication date:	04/05/2016
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	9.30(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	NC1070L (what's this?)
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

About the Author

Dianna Hutts Aston is the author of many books for children and the founder of the Oz Project, a nonprofit foundation for disadvantaged children. She lives on an island off the coast of Texas.

Sylvia Long is the illustrator of many bestselling children's books, including Sylvia Long's Mother Goose and Hush Little Baby. She lives in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Editorial Reviews

★ 03/21/2016
Aston and Long follow A Butterfly Is Patient and other collaborations with a poetic examination of the vast insect order of beetles. As in the previous books, brief phrases (“A beetle is kaleidoscopic,” “A beetle is colossal”) introduce various characteristics, explored in crisp, accessible text that can be both general and species-specific (“ flash their signals to attract a mate, defend their territory, and warn away predators”). Long’s watercolors capture the vibrant details of the rainbow stag beetle, dead-nettle leaf beetle, and other striking specimens in a sparkling homage to a diverse category of insect. Ages 5–8. Author’s agent: Rosemary Stimola, Stimola Literary Studio. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

"A sparkling homage to a diverse category of insect."-Publishers Weekly, starred review"

This delightful book promotes a sense of wonder about a group of little creatures with whom we share this Earth."—Science Magazine

"Children and adults will love this beautiful and fascinating book."-School Library Journal

From the Publisher

Some beetles can crawl through the eye of a needle. Some of them measure half a foot in length. Some dig and some hop. Some fly and some swim. All of them have incredible features that dazzle the eyes and ensnare the senses. Beetles come in every color of the rainbow, in incredible shapes, with astonishing abilities. Aston shares with readers’ insight about the character of these special bugs. Indeed, she skillfully explains their traits, but the narrative is not what makes this tremendous volume stand out. What truly resonates are the wonderful illustrations by Sylvia Long. With dexterity, artistry, and vision she depicts these creatures of the wild, bringing them and all their subtle nuances to the eyes of young audiences. The painted renderings make them accessible in ways that photography may not. An informational book worthy of any science teacher’s library, surely this one belongs in the hands of curious young people. Reviewer: Remy Dou; Ages 3 to 8.

Children's Literature - Remy Dou

05/01/2016
K-Gr 4—The author/illustrator pair have created yet another colorful and intricate work. The combination of Aston's soft text and Long's watercolors provide readers with an enjoyable insight into the world of beetles. Text presented in a sweeping cursive font introduces a general statement about beetles ("A beetle is telegraphic"), while text rendered in a smaller, nonscript font expands on this trait or ability ("Most beetles send messages to each other using chemicals called pheromones…. Others 'talk' to each other with squeaky, raspy sounds…"). Several illustrations depict the beetle species in their natural environments (a boll weevil munching on a plant), while others juxtapose everyday items with the insect to give a sense of size perspective (the North American featherwing beetle and the eye of a needle). Each species is labeled, and the endpapers feature an illustrated free-form list of all the beetles pictured. The only thing that could make this book better would be a glossary of the beetles with additional information for the curious child. VERDICT Children and adults will love this beautiful and fascinating book.—Gretchen Crowley, Alexandria City Public Libraries, VA

School Library Journal