The bug in the bog

Brief, sometimes rhyming text chronicles the tale of a bucolic bug living on a log in a bubbling bog, singing happily to himself. Enter a sneaky, smiling frog intent on his next insect meal. But before the amphibian can carry out his plan, a fog descends, obscuring visual details, while the narrator declares: "Hear the chomp! Hear the chew! Hear the slurp! Hear the swallow!" After three suspenseful, mud-filled spreads the fog rises, revealing a much enlarged (and burping) bug. Geisel honor winner Fenske's deceptively simple story relies on subverting common predator-prey tropes, with hilarious results. The bold, cartoon-style illustrations feature expressive facial features, saturated earth tone colors, and many whimsical details (i.e., the bug in a frying pan). Expect high demand for this clever reader.

In this darkly funny early reader in rhyme, the cheerful titular bug doesn't seem to be long for this world when a frog shows up in the bog; the simply drawn, expressive cartoon illustrations show the frog eyeing the bug hungrily and even donning a bib. A fog obscures a moment that seems to be the end of our insect friend, but that boldly lettered "CHOMP!" and "CHEW!" might not mean what readers assume at first. Simple rhymes, repeated words, and brief lines of text in large print make for an effective easy reader, and the decoding work pays off in a story with humor, suspense, and nearly singable meter ("See the bug in the bog. // See the bug on a log. / See the bug watch / the muddy bog bubble. // The bug sits. / The bug sings. / The bug thinks / happy things, // never dreaming / there could be some trouble"). It could also lend itself to a lesson plan about making predictions -- if one doesn't mind having one's predictions upended in the silliest way possible. (Burp.) Shoshana Flax January/February 2021 p.102(c) Copyright 2021. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

A bug disrupts her bog's food chain--or does she? A happy-go-lucky bug (egg-shaped and yellow, with orange stripes) "bobs on a log" as bubbles float--and "POP!"--from the muddy bog below. She sings and "thinks happy things." Unicorn-bugs, rainbows, and sunshine appear in her pink thought bubble. "Trouble" is the last thing on her mind. Then a frog arrives in the bog. He gives the bug "a slick, slimy smile" and envisions cooking her up for a "yummy" meal. The bug seems unfazed. She even waves to the frog. Suddenly, a fog rolls in and obscures the two characters from view. There's a "CHOMP!" and a "CHEW!" and a "SLURP!" and a "SWALLOW!" The fog slowly and dramatically dissipates, revealing a surprise twist: The bug is now over twice her size and "full of frog!" Rhyming, almost singsong text buoys the economical and often alliterative vocabulary of around 70 words and their variants. The line spacing--at most seven lines of text per double-page spread--helps emerging readers keep up with the fun. Fenske's bright colors and cartoon illustrations add to the friendly tone and humorous plot. Though careful readers may guess the outcome from the bug's nonchalant attitude, the omniscient narrator's warnings ("if that bug were me, I'd leave that bog on the double!") help the ending feel like a genuine surprise. (This book was reviewed digitally with 9-by-12-inch double-page spreads viewed at 57.6% of actual size.) A winning role reversal. (Early reader. 3-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Brief, sometimes rhyming text chronicles the tale of a bucolic bug living on a log in a bubbling bog, singing happily to himself. Enter a sneaky, smiling frog intent on his next insect meal. But before the amphibian can carry out his plan, a fog descends, obscuring visual details, while the narrator declares: Hear the chomp! Hear the chew! Hear the slurp! Hear the swallow! After three suspenseful, mud-filled spreads the fog rises, revealing a much enlarged (and burping) bug. Geisel honor winner Fenske's deceptively simple story relies on subverting common predator-prey tropes, with hilarious results. The bold, cartoon-style illustrations feature expressive facial features, saturated earth tone colors, and many whimsical details (i.e., the bug in a frying pan). Expect high demand for this clever reader. Grades K-1. Copyright 2021 Booklist Reviews.