The Little Buggers: Insect & Spider Poems

by Lewis, Chess (Illustrator)

Book

Genres: Poetry

28 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Dannita Stanley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall, I thought this book was ok. I had a difficult time thinking about the purpose of a book of poems about bugs for my age group of students. What I did like about some of the poetry is that there were good examples of informational poems that were entertaining, but also included factual information about the bug. I also enjoyed the poem The Marching Song of Captain Bugg because it is written from two point of views. There were four stanzas and they alternate between first person and third person. I think this example could be used for a lesson in point of view for fourth graders and adapted for fifth graders. I think it would also serve as a good mentor text when requiring students to write a poem in two voices from two different perspectives.

The poems that drew me in the most in this book were those that were more factual than nonsense, but I also enjoyed the poems where the author seemed to have an affection for a particular bug. In The Ladybug, it was clear that the author appreciates the appearance of a ladybug. I'd like to see my students write a poem with an affection, such as an Ode, and then change the perspective to the perspective of the person or thing to see how it could differ.

I would not recommend this book to others. I feel there is so much more poetry that is available that I find better than this.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this little book. Very cute poems and funny illustrations.

Here's one for you book lovers out there:

In Book Are Bugs

In books are bugs
and nothing's worse
for picture books
or books of verse----

a million micro-
scopic mites
nibbling witty
bitty bites.

It takes them cen-
turies to do
lunch on a paper-
back or two.

Digesting pages
bit by bit,
those little buggers
never quit.

So check it out,
and listen man---
keep on reading
while you can.

J. Patrick Lewis

[Joanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book when I found out I was going to have a boy, and figured I'd better stock up on some bug books. I was completely surprised that it became a favorite of mine as well as Cameron's.