Beegu [Hardcover]

Alexis Deacon (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up

The story of an alienated alien

Beegu’s spacecraft is stranded on Earth. Now she is lost and wandering. Waiting for a rescue signal from her mother, she fails to make friends with the strange creatures she encounters. Rabbits don't seem to understand her; windblown leaves won’t stay still to listen. But at last, on a school playground, Beegu discovers a group of fantastic companions who are happy to let her join their games . . . until a grownup creature spoils the fun.

Beegu's spirits are sinking lower than ever just as the mother ship arrives, in this simple, bittersweet picture book that shows us our world through the three eyes of an innocent outsider with the help of stylish art and a wry, understated text.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2-Children will sympathize with Beegu, a cuddly, yellow extraterrestrial, when her spaceship crashes and strands her far from home. While looking for some friends, the lost alien thinks she hears her mother calling and is led into a big city where, instead, she finds a box of puppies that welcome her; she curls up with them to sleep. Then a man from the stray dog shelter finds her in the box and turns her out. Forced to continue her sad journey, Beegu comes upon a playground filled with happy children and joins them in play until another adult rejects her, sending her out once more to wander in the strange world. Finally, her parents arrive to rescue her and she tells them of her experiences, speaking fondly of the small Earth creatures who were so friendly and full of hope. The quirky, economical illustrations aptly reflect the lonely mood of this touching story. Beegu, with her floppy ears and three little eyes, is an appealing character who conveys a message about the importance of accepting those who are different and of remaining hopeful.
Linda L. Walkins, Mount Saint Joseph Academy, Brighton,
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

PreS-Gr. 1. This book's raison d'etre is an endearing yellow alien named Beegu, who resembles a cross between a stuffed bunny and a three-eyed toddler in footie pajamas. Marooned on Earth after her flying saucer crashes, Beegu searches for help, her earlike appendages drooping in disappointment each time an unsympathetic adult sends her packing. At last she stumbles onto a playground, where welcoming children give her a hula hoop as a souvenir, and, more importantly, a positive impression of Earthlings to share with her parents when they finally return and beam her up for a joyful hug. Few words are used or needed, thanks to Deacon's clear visual storytelling: the way the textured, earth-toned backgrounds set off Beegu's bright-yellow form conveys her isolation more strongly than words. Beegu's experiences send a rather facile message about the sweetness of children versus the jaded self-absorption of grown-ups ("Earth creatures were mostly big and unfriendly, but there were some small ones who seemed hopeful"), but this drama of parental loss and reunion will resonate nonetheless. Jennifer Mattson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux; 1st edition (September 9, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374306672
• ISBN-13: 978-0374306670
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 10.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #904,432 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a little yellow alien, October 24, 2003

By 

S. E. Stein "storyteller" (Ambler, PA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Beegu (Hardcover)

A sweet tale that has held hundreds of preschoolers on our bookmobile spellbound as they relate to this little, long-eared, rabbit-like character. Few but meaningful words add to the simple yet lovely art that guides the listener through emotions that all children can relate to: lost, lonely, not able to make one's self understood, sad, perhaps even a bit scared, not belonging, unwanted, elation, and happiness. Not too long for the older 3's or 4 year olds, not too babyish for the 5 & 6 year olds. Beegu is a delightful story for the teachers who join us as well.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful and haunting, April 6, 2006

By 

Tracie OHara (Charlotte, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beegu (Hardcover)

This story haunted me after reading it to my preschool students. If you have ever felt lost and unloved, you will relate to this moving story of a small alien stranded on an unfriendly world. However, Beegu has hope for the "small ones" on Earth. This is a great story for creating empathy in children for those who are different. If you are a parent or teacher with Beegu's faith in the small ones, you should read this book to the small ones in your life.Would you be Beegu's friend? I hope so!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best, October 8, 2004

By 

BookMom (brockport) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beegu (Hardcover)

We read and we read and we read, but there is not one book that can keep my children so quietly happy as this bittersweet, lovingly drawn little hybrid named beegu. It belongs on every little person's shelf.