There Ain't No Bugs on Me [Hardcover]

Jerry Garcia (Author), Bruce Whatley (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 19, 1999

The bears from The Teddy Bears Picnic are back in this second book and tape from Jerry Garcia, David Grisman, and Bruce Whatley. This time the bears are on a trip to see the old folks, and just cant seem to shake off all those playful and pesky bugs. Bruce Whatleys bright and hilarious illustrations bring the action to life, and accompanying the book is a tape of the riotous, rollicking folksong sung by Jerry Garcia and David Grisman. The great outdoors will never be the same!

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A lighthearted ditty arranged and performed by musicians Grisman and the late Grateful Dead guitarist Garcia makes a less-than-harmonious transition into picture-book text. The refrain "There ain't no bugs on me,/ There ain't no bugs on me./ There may be bugs on some of you mugs,/ But there ain't no bugs on me" alternates with different cheerful stanzas (e.g., "Well, the Juney bug comes in the month of June,/ The lightning bug comes in May,/ The bedbug comes just any old time,/ But they're not going to stay"). While the lyrics are fun to say (or sing), they're not linear, and they don't tell or imply a story. Whatley, previously teamed with Garcia and Grisman for The Teddy Bears' Picnic, reunites that teddy-bear cast to supply a broad plot line here. His cheery watercolors show the bears as musicians heading out on tour and meeting a variety of insects and other creatures along the way. Their leader, a bespectacled, white-muzzled bruin sporting a guitar with a rainbow strap, is a ringer for Garcia, and indeed, no bugs ever alight on him. Throughout their travels, the bears are accompanied by a group of suitcase-toting insects whose antics provide most of the visual interest. An audiocassette of the songAa real winnerAis included. Ages 3-8.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3-A rollicking picture-book version of a song arranged and performed by Garcia and Grisman. As each verse is presented, the illustrations tell their own story. Four very hip teddy bears pack their guitars, leave a sign on their door that says "On Tour," load into a rowboat, board a train on the "Woodstock Railway," and finally arrive on foot at their concert destination. The lyrics become sillier as the book progresses. Although the refrain, "There ain't no bugs on me," is repeated often, sneaker-clad insects, many of which are polka-dotted or striped, are present on every page. In fact, many of the things mentioned in the song are reflected in the illustrations. A love-struck pair of peanuts, a smiling frog, a swarm of flies, and a bunch of lobsters all join in the act. The bears blithely accept whatever creatures come their way-all the more voices to join in on the chorus. Framed watercolor illustrations fill each double-page spread with the boxed lyrics set in one of the corners. A tape is included, although the words almost need no music as they incorporate a rhythm of their own. A gleeful good time for bear-and bug-aficionados.
Jane Marino, Scarsdale Public Library, NY
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; Har/Cas edition (May 19, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060281421
• ISBN-13: 978-0060281427
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.1 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #919,163 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Is Hell a curse Word?, September 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: There Ain't No Bugs on Me (Hardcover)

I listen to the audio casette with my children (ages 2 and 4) regularly. They absolutley love to dance around and ask to me play it over and over. They can completely relate the song to the story and we have shared many hours of pleasure from both. Maybe I'm a more liberal mom, but my kids are happy, good natured and love life. They have never noticed and could care less about the word hell. Am I crazy or what?

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An ALMOST perfect book... Garcia lives on..., August 18, 1999

By 

Chess Heart "paxbear" (Canton, OH) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: There Ain't No Bugs on Me (Hardcover)

Not so terribly long after the death of Garcia, we have yet another bit of history to share, and share with our children!! The bright illustrations and twangy, countrified voice of Garcia singing "There ain't no bugs on me" (to the tune of "It Ain't Gonna Rain No More") is worth the price of admission, as it were. Children will likely have great fun finding the different bugs who are on everyone (and everywhere) except the bespectacled, guitar carrying "Garcia" bear.

There IS one problem, and for some folk it'll be a doozie: The audio footage is from an album, "Not for Kids Only" which is copyrighted 1993. The book is copyright 1999. In the audio footage, Garcia sings, "Oh, it ain't gonna' rain no more, no more/it ain't gonna rain no more/how in the hell can the old folks tell/it ain't gonna' rain no more." The text in the book changes it to "how in the heck can the old folks tell" which your average child may note because it doesn't rhyme.

I personally am a coordinator for a literacy outreach program here in Pittsburgh, but sadly we cannot use it in our program due to the possibility of caregivers or parents taking offense at the word "hell". Future purchasers of the book/cassette set may want to give consideration to this conundrum before buying.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars There ain't no bugs on me, December 15, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: There Ain't No Bugs on Me (Hardcover)

Great childrens book. Illistrations keep my 2 year old focused and she loves the song. Over all a winner.