The Great Whipplethorp Bug Collection

by Ben Brashares, Elizabeth Bergeland (Illustrator)

Little, Brown has bought The Great Whipplethorp Bug Collection, written by Ben Brashares and illustrated by Elizabeth Bergeland. The picture book examines perceptions of masculinity as a boy tries to live up to the legacy of his ancestors and ultimately learns that "greatness" has many meanings. Publication is planned for spring 2021.

Genres: Picture Books, Family, Nature, Childrens, Humor, Adventure, Fiction

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2021

Reviews

[RJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations, solid story, and a model of non-toxic-masculinity. You love to see it!

EDIT: I'm kind of shocked that other reviewers seem to have missed the whole message? I didn't think it was that subtle! A plot summary to make my own review a little more clear: this is a story of a young boy disappointed that his work-from-home dad is so boring when his other ancestors (soldiers, explorers, and field researchers) were so exciting and cool. He tries to have grand adventures of his own that fall through since he lives in the suburbs and is, you know, like nine. He decides he can still collect bugs like his entomologist grandfather... but then finds he can't stomach the idea of killing them. Instead, he makes a habitat in his back yard for living insects and shares it with his delighted, proud dad. In the last pages, the young boy tells his father that he's glad he's "boring", because it means they get to spend time together. "Chuck had an interesting thought: Maybe the Whipplethorp men weren't getting worse. Maybe they were just getting... different. And that's how things change. That's how they get better."

[BookTrib.com]

This is a witty, heartwarming exploration of strong father-son relationships and growing up male in today’s culture through the lens of a boy yearning to forge his own identity.

Read our full coverage here:
https://booktrib.com/2021/06/16/the-g...

[Gordon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poor Chuck Whipplethorp! He's utterly bored with his new surroundings. He's also seemingly useless. Fortunately, he gets sooo bored that he finally relents and helps unpack one or two boxes. Hey!, what's this?!? Grandpa Whipplethorp's eponymous bug collection! (So much for Chuck being helpful.) And from there we set off on a story that honors the lifetime contributions of every man in bored little useless Chuckie's lineage. Sadly, to Chuck, Dad is a dud by comparison.
This book could've merited very high stars - Mr. Brashares' storytelling ability isn't bad, but underlying the so-so story is the promotion of the patriarchy, and a clear sense that women don't matter in the least. Two pictures clue us in to the fact that Chuck even has a mother, otherwise the living male characters (Chuck/Dad) are only interested in the deceased male Whipplethorp ancestors and how great they were. It completely overlooks any greatness associated with the female ancestors. Author, Ben Brashares, has really missed an opportunity with this one. On the other hand, the female illustrator, Elizabeth Bergeland, absolutely knocks it out of the park. Her delightfully detailed drawings account for at least a whole star in my estimation.
The folx at Kirkus Reviews provided it with a starred review, noting the "paternal forebears" and their "exciting adventures", but doesn't bat an eye at the book's limitations for engaging a wider circle of young readership. Three stars equals "I liked it", and indeed it is likable, but the two stars it should've earned point out what to me are significant failures.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw this book and knew I needed to share it with one granddaughter who is fascinated with bugs, loves looking for them and learning about them. Ben Brashares takes this journey that is about bugs but also a surprising journey of growing up to find one's own way to "be". In watercolor and pencil, this family trip (another by father and son) happens in memories. Young boy Chuck is the fifth "Charles Van Velsor Whipplethorp". He is bored. They have just moved and via a page of his neighborhood, we see that it's new, homes all alike, young trees. You've seen those places! The page of those four generations shows the first as a mountain climber, the second as an oceanographer, and number three as a 'famed entomologist'. He even discovered a new bug! Chuck unpacks his grandfather's insect collection, from when he was a kid - amazing. Chuck is feeling pretty down. How can he ever be amazing? Chuck's dad works as a data analyst, tells Chuck maybe he could go build a fort, OR, help unpack boxes.
Surprises lie in store for readers as Chuck does do something with boxes after finding (in that sparse neighborhood) very few bugs. And THAT is amazing! With Elizabeth's also amazing illustrations, kids will see and perhaps be inspired to discover how NOT to be bored. It's a terrific book!

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely book about fathers and sons. Readers see a young boy, Chuck (Charles the fifth) and his dad, Charles the fourth share about life and their history. Chuck learns about his grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great-grandfather. Each was a gifted man in their fields of study. The tradeoff for that was that they were rarely home. Chuck thinks he needs to do something great too and wonders why his dad hasn't followed their paths. Love when he figures out that his dad is the most amazing as he chose a career that lets him be home with Chuck. Terrific gift book for dads.

[Elaine Fultz, Teacher Librarian, MLS · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is really good and a great son & dad story, but it will be a shelf-sitter. The wonderful but muted illustrations, similar to the Stead style, are not likely to draw the 21st century kids' eye. Some pages have no text, some have just a few words, and some have a LOT, so not a good candidate for a group read-aloud. A upper elementary classroom teacher could definitely work through this with an individual class and talk about insects and problem solving, though.

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 4 out of 5]

For kids who aspire to grow up and be a part of a family that loves and is involved with each other.
One that understands you don't have to go on big adventures and be away a lot in order to be important.
And especially one that understands that killing a cool bug just to keep them in a collection might not be the path for everyone.

I also like how boredom motivates creativity. No video games, computers, phones, or iPads entertaining kids here.

[Wisconsin Alumni]

Ben Brashares ’97
Author

From the author:
The Great Whipplethorp Bug Collection owes a huge debt to UW-Madison entomology professor Dan Young. His class, and the bug collection I made for it, had an enormous affect on me. A much better version of that bug collection appears in beautiful watercolor (illustrated by Elizabeth Bergeland) in the book.

[Jude Morrissey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a sweet book! If you have a kiddo who's reading on his/her own and likes bugs and/or thinks maybe parents are a little boring, this would be a good book to hand them.

Also, if you like bugs and/or think you might be a little boring as a parent, you could hand yourself this book.

[Demarae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the illustrations. Love that the dad’s goals wasn’t to be adventurous in the sense of world discovery, but in being with his family. And that Chuck figured out how to have his own type of bug collection.

[Katrina Dreamer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this. The illustrations are like a Wes Anderson movie in picture form...very detailed, precise, and intentional with their use of color. Its message about how things change for the good, and the demonstration of the child being compassionate toward the insects was great.

[Elisabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

[Melissa the Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so cute! I love a good bug/entomologist book, and the connection with family trees made it a fun story. The illustrations are also great!

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is pretty long, but the message and the illustrations are great! It could be used for story time with a few much shorter books or maybe some quick editing.

[SamSamSam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was sweet and creative!

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chuck has some seriously cool ancestors that inspire him to adventures of his own

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible artwork. A book you can really dive into. And the story is wonderful and fun and funny.

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny text, love that the kid can’t bring himself to pin a bug for a bug collection. Me too, kid, me too. Sweet story.

[Erin *BookDragon_Library* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Father-son story. Background is in color and father and son are black and white which I thought was interesting.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

A preschool and up guide to a great bug collector and identifier who is following in the line of his family.

[Petie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the most beautiful delightful books I have ever read. Made me cry. And the illustrations are so unique and gorgeous.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found in L4L Volume 14.

[skcocnaH · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the illustrations and I love the message. I don’t often see this kind of father-son relationship in picture books. It’s real nice, I tell ya. Real nice.

[Dale Barlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

(E) 07.10.2021: per the recommendation of the Lexington H-Leader newspaper; about the bond between father and son...; 02.24.2022: a young son discovers his paternal grandfather’s insect collection, right after the family moves to a new home. This collection is fully illustrated on two (2) whole pages in this book (it takes a long time to review it: the illustrations are really that wonderful). Initially Chuck/Charles thinks his own father is boring but of course come around quickly to how wonderful it is to have a father nearby while exploring. This book does succeed at honoring father/son relationships but more Importantly it is a fascinating read plus an even more fascinating book to marvel over those illustrations on every single page; 2021 hardcover via Madison County Public Library, Berea, ~33 pgs.

[Pinky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chuck wants to go on a cool adventure like his ancestors. He ends up making a living bug exhibit. Which makes his dad proud as his son is paving his own path.