Beetle Bop [Hardcover]

Denise Fleming (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up

They crawl up walls, they hide in cracks, they flip, they fly, and sometimes . . . crrrash. Beetles come in all shapes and sizes, and they are everywhere in this thoroughly buggy, beautifully designed book.

There are striped beetles, spotted beetles, all-over-dotted beetles--and don't forget the noisily gnawing beetles! Whether you love bugs or whether the sight of them makes you itch, you'll adore this infested offering from the beloved Denise Fleming.

(20070724)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

As in her Caldecott Honor Book, In a Small, Small Pond (1993), Fleming creates a vibrant, exciting portrait of often-overlooked creatures. Here she uses expertly crafted fiber collage to celebrate beetles, and both words and pictures vibrate with the relentless energy of her subject. The rhyming couplets call out descriptions of beetles with the pounding rhythm of a chant: "Striped beetles, spotted beetles, all-over-dotted beetles." The beautiful images, colored in bright, saturated shades shot through with electric jolts of neon, magnify the places where beetles hide—under leaves, inside pavement cracks—drawing young children into the secret insect world where predators sometimes lurk. The final spread shows the beetles' activity as a wild, joyful dance, which may inspire preschoolers to try out a creepy-crawly boogie of their own. A great choice for a restless crowd demanding a high-voltage read-aloud. Engberg, Gillian

Review

* “Beetles come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, and Fleming gives an exuberant shout-out to a slew of them in this eye-catching catalogue of backyard nature. . . . Part boisterous read-aloud, part field guide for entomology enthusiasts, this arresting volume has something for everybuggy.” (starred review)

(Publishers Weekly )

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books; 1 edition (August 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152059369
• ISBN-13: 978-0152059361
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 11.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #692,374 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Denise Fleming won a Caldecott Honor for In the Small, Small Pond. She is the author and illustrator of eighteen picture books, including Buster.

***INTERVIEW***
Q: Where did you grow up?
A: I grew up in Toledo,Ohio, where I live still. I am a midwestern girl.

Q: What is your earliest memory of writing/drawing?
A: It seems like I was always writing and drawing. I wanted to share my ideas from the beginning. A bit bossy am I.

Q: What inspired you to write/illustrate your first book?
A: I started collecting picture books in art school. I was crazy about the whole picture book format. I realized, as I was sharing books with my daughter, that making books is what I needed to do.

Q: What are your hobbies and interests besides reading and books?
A: I work in clay, create art from tin cans, and make art dolls. Right now I am working on combining all three media. I also dye and paint fabric for the dolls.
Planting flowers and painting the outside of my house and studio is what I am busy doing right now.

Q: What one or two words of advice would you give for young authors/illustrators?
A: Experiment with different styles and media.

*From Macmillan's Denise Fleming page.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beetle Bop, July 28, 2008

By 

Alice Donnelly "ALi Ribbit" (Elkton, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beetle Bop (Hardcover)

Denise Fleming uses great colors and a catchy rhyme to tell children about bugs. I love how the words travel around the pages. This book is big enough to read to a group, too.

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't be bugged-it's fun!, November 1, 2009

By 

Kathleen S. Kennedy "author, Coyotes in the K... (Colorado) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beetle Bop (Hardcover)

A very colorful way to explore a versatile and quite prolific bug population. Whether you embrace them or shy away from them, this book will colorfully lead you through the many faces of these fascinating creatures. Beautifully illustrated. A great read aloud book.

5.0 out of 5 stars Many children just love beetles and the rhythmical, sing song text and the charming art work in this book are very appealing!, June 4, 2009

By 

D. Fowler "Dragonfly77" (Vermont) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beetle Bop (Hardcover)

Bugs, bugs, bugs, bugs . . . doesn't everybody love them? There are all kinds of bugs and if you get out your bug catching kit you're bound to catch a few. There are ladybugs and long shaped gunny looking striped one. They come in all shapes sizes and colors and animals like skunks love to find and eat them. Yum, yum! A lizard likes them too and his long tongue reaches out to catch "BuZZing beetles, huMMing beetles, steadily druMMing beetles. Beetles are often underfoot, but there are even "crawl-up-the wall beetles!"

"Beetles flip.
Beetles flop.
Beetles fly.
Beetles . . .
bop!

Many children just love beetles and the rhythmical, sing song text and the charming art work in this book are very appealing. This book would be a perfect read aloud book during circle time, especially for the expressive reader. If you search the internet, you can learn how to make insect bug traps. Learn how to identify the bugs and do a little "beetle bop" in your homeschool or classroom setting!