The Gentleman Bug

by Julian Hector

The Gentleman Bug is perfectly content leading his quiet life in the garden as a school teacher and bookworm. He doesn't even mind the ceaseless teasing of the more dapper bugs. But everything changes when the Lady Bug arrives in town. The Gentleman Bug falls legs over antennae for her at first sight. But how will he get her to notice him?

After a series of mishaps and a failed Victorian makeover, the Gentleman Bug learns that love (and a love of literature) trumps all, as he wins his fair Librarian Lady Bug's heart.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Kids, Books About Books, Fiction, Friendship

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Julian Hector was born in Los Angeles, grew up in rural Texas, and graduated from Parsons the New School for Design in New York City. His debut picture book was The Little Matador. Julian lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Reviews

[Lupine]

Mixed feelings about this one. I liked the illustrations and the premise but the story seemed a little choppy to me, like there were some major holes that a preschooler might not necessarily be able to fill in.

[Kathryn]

So cute! The little bugs are so adorable (especially Gentleman Bug and his love of reading) as is their world. I loved the little details, like the English-countryside look to some of it and "Bugadilly Circus", and the Moulin-Rouge inspired (fortunately very "G" rated here) theater. I'm not sure the storytelling flowed perfectly for me, but the illustrations won the day and I liked the message of being true to yourself and the ending is just darling and even a little bit romantic. Very sweet.

[Sweet on Books]

The Gentleman Bug is a studious little bug living in a garden full of bugs. He loves books and reading and even teaches a class. Some bugs make fun of his interests but he never minds until one day a Lady Bug comes to town. When she doesn’t pay attention to him, he decides to make some changes to his appearance. The result of these efforts teaches him -and readers - an important lesson about being comfortable with who you are and never changing to satisfy someone else.

Although the story is short and there are few words on the page, the author is able to deliver a sweet, meaningful tale. The illustrations capture the Gentleman Bug’s garden beautifully and definitely add to the story with their soothing colors and delightful details. The dress is old fashioned and the location of the Garden seems to be England given the names of the places – Bugadilly Circus and Queen’s Cross Station. The front and back inside covers feature a map of the Garden and the names of many other bugs living there. Could there be a sequel or even a series with these little creatures? I guess that depends on how many kids relate to anthropomorphized bugs. They are surprisingly gentle looking and not at all creepy so I think there’s a good chance we’ll see more.

[Britt Leigh]

I loved the story. The bookish gentleman bug tries to capture the attention of the ladybug through a delicate courtship dance. I make no secret that I am a romantic at heart, so, accordingly, this quiet love expressed warmed my heart. I'm not sure what young readers will get out of the text, though. It appeals to adults because we seek love and can relate to feeling invisible in that context.

The old-fashioned setting of the illustrations (looks like watercolor and pencil) in whimsical muted gumdrop colors charmed me. Though, I was disappointed that in some double-page spreads it was hard to spot the gentleman bug. That fact may have been a deliberate choice of the illustrator to reinforce the notion that the gentleman bug feels he blends into the crowd. But in doing so, I lost the emotions, which seem to rarely change.

But overall, I was smitten with the book, and had a couple been more into children's books, I would have gotten it for them for an engagement present. (Friends, take note should that time ever come for me!)

[Eric]

The book chronicles the adventures of a book reading gentleman bug who's a very smart kid and a new lady bug comes to town and catches his eye that he likes her but doesn't know how to get her attention. He tries to act differently but ends up screwing it up and she doesn't notice him until it's revealed that she's the new librarian and invites him to a tour and she liked him how he was to start with.

It works to show kids that you shouldn't change who you are to get people's attentions because, in the end, the people who notice you for who you are end up being the best.

It was a shortly written book but the illustrations were very nice to use in class to show kids to just be who you are and develop as individuals.

I'd use this in class for younger kids to develop and for parents who's kids are going through tough stages in life and that in the end just be yourself.

[Shannon]

Julian, Y U always so wonderful? The colors in this book are my favorite. My students love The Gentleman Bug's students' families, and I thought the garden's London-ish nature was perfect.

Upon an additional reading, I am impressed anew at this book as a reinterpretation of Cinderella. Love it.

[The Styling Librarian]

Loved this world of bugs, so cute. Love the celebration of books as well. So cute!

[John]

The Gentlman Bug is one awesome little fellow.

[Irina R.]

I borrowed this book for mama as she is not feeling well and i wanted to cheer her up and distract her from her pain and illness but ended up i was the one reading it as usual!. Unfortunately, i did not find interesting children's books for her this time and had to settle for mediocre book such as this one here which seemed to be lacking of a plot and too jumpy and simplistic!. I did not understand the purpose of introducing a list of bug characters in the story who ended up doing nothing in the story. The only characters mentioned actively were only the book nerd bug turned gentle man bug who was trying to impress the lady bug character who just came to the town by changing the way he dresses! and that is it!. The only part i liked was the surprise at the end which i think would enticed every book readers huhu..

[Becca]

I love this book for its pictures. While it was a very cute story, the story line was extremely simple. I just wish so badly that there had been more to it. The pictures led me to believe that there would be a lot more going on with all these darling characters that don't even get a mention except in an adorable character map on the first and last page. The Sea Wasp, Wendy Weaver and Batilda Bee are only a few of the characters who look so thought out you would think they had a part to play in this book... but they really dont. And while I liked it, and I'm sure lots of children would find it very cute, it did not fully satisfy me. I wish this was more of a chapter book for young readers. I think there's some more to this story that could be told.

[Cheryl]

Too much missing for me. Show us more about the rest of the 'garden' (actually town) and the bugs that live there. Show us the bugs actually using their extra 'arms' in different ways (I call it the Squidward effect, because Spongebob's nemesis almost never separates his limbs to full effect). And connect the dots between the Lady Bug ignoring our hero, and somehow him getting an invitation to attend an event, to him being special guest at the event, to the two of them becoming a couple... most especially, why was she ignoring him and paying attention to others?

[Jennifer Heise]

This cute book about a Gentleman Bug who is happy as a solitary reader and classroom teacher until he sees a Lady Bug he would like to get to know. His students help him get all gussied up for a fancy gathering... but he feels out of place and things go wrong. On the other hand, there is still hope because it turns out the Lady Bug is the new librarian in town THE MOST ADORABLE bug illustrations. Kind of old fashioned, but not dated.

[John]

Nothing to say because I don't like bugs.

[Arielle]

Honestly, there is no real story. It does not flow from A to B well. The art is lovely.

[Mama’s Hysa Book Club]

The illustrations are phenomenal, but the story is lacking.

[Whitney Pittsenbarger]

This was adorable. How book lovers fall in love.

[Sarah Connolly]

Found this at my local library earlier today and read this to the kids I nanny. Great for either a boy or a girl. The girl loved the pretty pictures and the boy loved that it was about bugs!

[Aleece]

Gentleman Bug loves to read, sometimes others make fun of him but he doesn’t mind because he loves reading. He teaches a class to help others read. One day Lady Bug arrives in town and Gentleman Bug wants to get her attention so he tries to be someone that he isn’t. In the end he goes back to being his normal self and gets an invitation to the new library where Lady Bug is the librarian and they enjoy their time together reading.

Really cute story, not too many words per page which makes this perfect for young kids and the story is really cute that older kids and librarians alike will love this book.

[Jana]

This is a cute picture book with a sweet message about being yourself and making friends. The Gentleman Bug teaches school and loves to spend all of his free time reading books. Several of the other bugs make fun of him, but it's not a problem until a new Lady Bug arrives in town. Trying to impress her, Gentleman Bug puts on fancy new clothes and hangs out at the popular night spot, but that doesn't work out so well. Young readers will enjoy finding out just how easy it is to make a new friend when you stay true to yourself. Lovely watercolor and pencil artwork add to the charm of this book that seems to be made especially for book lovers!

[Hannah Cobb]

The gentleman bug likes to read, even though all the other bugs in the garden laugh at him. But when a new lady bug shows up, the gnetleman bug stops reading and dresses up to impress her. It doesn't work--until he finds out that the the lady bug is the new town librarian. Now the gentleman bug can go back to being himself, and keep his new friend! Humorous watercolor illustrations and sparse text make this a great read-aloud for storytime. Ages 3-5.

[Dergrossest]

Great art and a good story about the bookworm getting the girl - who on this forum wouldn't love that premise? I suggest reading it aloud with a Victorian English accent. I only wished there was a little more to read since the text was surprisingly sparse for a book about the love of reading. Anyway, I hope subsequent books involve some of the other cute bugs listed on the dust jacket.

[Sandy Brehl]

The Gentleman Bug (a fun bounce from our familiar Lady Bug), loves to read. The images in this oversized book make the story, including all the six-limbed critters in their various garbs and settings, rich with detail and oddly appealing. Happy ending- Gentleman Bug and Lady Bug become friends and explore the library (she's the librarian).

[Maria Burel]

The Gentleman Bug is really a book celebrating libraries and literacy, with a little buggy romance thrown in :) A cute story, and the classic illustrations are very well-done. I had a little trouble making the jump between Lady Bug's stand offish to suddenly warm and friendly demeanor towards the Gentleman Bug, though I appreciated the "be yourself" message.

[Michele Knott]

The beautiful illustrations just soften your heart to this gentle little bug. The two bugs' love of books is heartwarming and touching. The illustrations of the library are so fun to imagine yourself in!

[Gloria]

With a loveable story, great artwork, and a happy ending with a moral to tell, The Gentleman Bug is a great read for both children and adults.

[Holly]

Cute, but it was hard to tell the "gentleman bug" and the "ladybug" from the other bugs. And the story was kinda lame.

[Rachel]

Review to follow soon.

[Tina B]

ladybugs, city, library; story is a bit jumpy, feels pared-down

[John]

Too lengthy for storytimes, but a fun read.:)

[Tracy]

my idea of mr. right. loved it. george's favorite.