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40 pp.
| Boyds
| April, 2017
|
TradeISBN 978-1-62979-303-0$16.95
(4)
K-3
After a flea family auditions and wins a spot in the acrobatic troupe The Fleatastics, young daughter Sarafleana, a "born jumper," itches to go solo. The book contains winning wordplay ("The greatest show on dogs!"; "grand fleanale") and applause-worthy artistic detail, but the layouts are so chaotic--there's running text, dialogue balloons, and micro-size asides--that it's hard to know what to read when.
(4)
1-3
Super Fly series.
Tired of feeling ignored, Super Fly's devoted sidekick, Fantastic Flea, decides to team up with their nemesis, Crazy Cockroach in the series' third entry (Flea). Next, Crazy Cockroach brainwashes an army of insects in hopes of defeating Super Fly for good (Army). There is a measured tedium to these accessible good-versus-evil chapter books with amusing cartoony spot art of the bug-eyed heroes. Review covers these Super Fly titles: Rise of the Evil Army! and Super Fly vs. Furious Flea!
32 pp.
| Kids Can
| September, 2017
|
TradeISBN 978-1-77138-678-4$16.99
(3)
PS
Illustrated by
Josée Bisaillon.
A flea awakened by midges takes a "leap!" into the path of a grasshopper, activating a series of jumps by a rabbit, dog, frog, etc. The flea reappears for the final leap then nestles back to sleep, bringing the poetic text full circle. The summery landscape and its animal denizens are depicted in the mixed-media illustrations with a liveliness that echoes the energy of the active-verb text.
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Nathan Reed.
Samson the Mighty Flea is the weightlifting star of Fleabag's Circus. He leaves to pursue a solo act to become "the biggest star in the world" but returns after realizing he misses his friends. The text has occasional rhyming passages, but its patterns are too haphazard to build drama effectively. The illustrations, full of bold colors and curlicues, are well suited to the circus motif.
(4)
1-3
Super Fly series.
Tired of feeling ignored, Super Fly's devoted sidekick, Fantastic Flea, decides to team up with their nemesis, Crazy Cockroach in the series' third entry (Flea). Next, Crazy Cockroach brainwashes an army of insects in hopes of defeating Super Fly for good (Army). There is a measured tedium to these accessible good-versus-evil chapter books with amusing cartoony spot art of the bug-eyed heroes. Review covers these Super Fly titles: Rise of the Evil Army! and Super Fly vs. Furious Flea!
258 pp.
| Clarion
| October, 2016
|
TradeISBN 978-0-544-63620-0$16.99
(3)
4-6
To save her village from a giant, Greta recruits and embarks on a mission with a young flea named Hercufleas. Testing their morals and courage against incredible odds, they will need to believe in themselves and each other before they can save anyone. Puns and humor (e.g., Hercufleas gets stuck in the giant's nostril) lighten explorations of darker concepts such as grief, doubt, and revenge.
58 pp.
| Holt
| June, 2015
|
TradeISBN 978-0-8050-9158-8$16.99
(3)
1-3
Illustrated by
Paul Rátz de Tagyos.
In her fourth book, cockroach Maybelle falls asleep in Mrs. Peabody's ten-layer cake and winds up at the school bake sale. While trying to find her way home, Maybelle must rescue her pal Henry, a flea, from a start-up flea circus. Chock-full of humorous situations, young readers will delight in the friendly roach's antics--and think twice about biting into their school lunches.
(4)
K-3
Creepy Creatures series.
Close-up color photos showing creepy crawlies in their natural environments dominate these introductions. The texts deliver basic (sometimes incomplete) information on diet, predators, habitat, etc. in short, simple sentences with vocabulary words set apart in bold font. Though little distinguishes these books from extant titles, the final activities, clean designs, and excellent photos will draw in browsers. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Creepy Creatures titles: Dragonflies, Fleas, Grasshoppers, Mites, Moths, and Stick Insects.
32 pp.
| Owlkids
| April, 2014
|
TradeISBN 978-1-77147-056-8$16.95
(4)
PS
Translated by Sarah Quinn.
Illustrated by
Marjorie Béal.
A flea thinks he's too small, so he climbs up onto larger and larger objects in the world until he is perched up on a cloud. From there, he convinces a big bear that despite his small stature, he is big--a big, itchy nuisance. Bold, clean illustrations consisting of simple shapes are eye-catching, but the slim story feels rather pointless.
278 pp.
| Abrams/Amulet
| August, 2014
|
TradeISBN 978-1-4197-1068-1$16.95
(2)
4-6
1952 was the height of the U.S. polio epidemic. It was also the publication year of Charlotte's Web. These historical details drive Rocklin's animal fantasy, an homage to White's classic. Franny, convalescing from polio, receives a handwritten note from an eloquent flea named Fleabrain. With keen insight into human (and insect) relations, Rocklin creates believable, three-dimensional characters that help anchor the off-the-wall elements. Websites. Bib.
Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
November, 2014
32 pp.
| New Forest
| March, 2013
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-84898-520-9$28.50
(4)
K-3
Creepy Crawlies series.
This series presents introductions to six "creepy crawlies." Neon-bright paint-splattered backgrounds feature enlarged close-up photos of the insects and arachnids in action while scattered text and colorful sidebars contain brief facts on every eye-catching but visually overwhelming spread. The layout and format is consistent throughout the series; a life cycle diagram and fact page conclude each book. Glos., ind. Review covers these Creepy Crawlies titles: The Life Cycle of Army Ants, The Life Cycle of Cockroaches, The Life Cycle of Dung Beetles, The Life Cycle of Fleas, The Life Cycle of Honey Bees, and The Life Cycle of Tarantulas.
58 pp.
| Holt
| August, 2012
|
TradeISBN 978-0-8050-9468-8$16.99
(3)
1-3
Illustrated by
Paul Rátz de Tagyos.
Bernice the ant insists on treating Maybelle, a cockroach, as her queen. Maybelle thinks she could get used to such treatment, but with Bernice's service comes trouble. While trying to keep hard-working Bernice safe, Maybelle, Bernice, and Henry the flea end up convincing the human inhabitants that their house is haunted. Black-and-white illustrations sprinkled throughout underscore the friendly story's humor.
32 pp.
| Putnam
| April, 2011
|
TradeISBN 978-0-399-25004-0$16.99
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Mike Lester.
The tale begins with a flea-flustered stray dog and ends with a friendship. The action/reaction rhyming scenario follows the itchy pup who lands "THUD! 'OH CRUD!'" on a man who later notices, "Now I see. / A bite from a flea made you land on me." Energetic sketchlike cartoons capture the story's frenetic itch and the bumbling--yet ultimately satisfying--mess that ensues.
40 pp.
| Chronicle
| May, 2010
|
TradeISBN 978-0-8118-6908-9$16.99
(4)
PS
In this nearly wordless book, a flea hops from animal to animal, inviting readers to count critters in each of a dozen-plus barnyard scenes. The counting scheme is somewhat confusing--the flea's bounce on the numeral in the upper-right corner is apparently the starting point--but the painterly illustrations and punch line (a skunk finally clears the farmyard) will engage preschoolers.
32 pp.
| Heinemann
| March, 2008
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-4329-1240-6$25.36 New ed. (2000)
(4)
K-3
Bug Books series.
Each revised volume includes short chapters of information such as how the insect or invertebrate is born, what it eats, and what makes it unique. The uncluttered design includes many close-up photos and new "bug maps" that identify body parts. Although the text is choppy in places, the engaging tone makes the books useful. There are four other spring 2008 books in this series. Glos., ind. Review covers these Bug Books titles: Flea, Stick Insect, Dragonfly, Earwig, and Pillbug.
60 pp.
| Holt
| August, 2008
|
TradeISBN 978-0-8050-8093-3$16.95
(3)
1-3
Illustrated by
Paul Rátz de Tagyos.
There's no one as fussy as the Peabody family--despite the fact that Maybelle, a cockroach, and Henry, a flea, live in the house that they keep "JUST SO." Joined by new friend Maurice, a fly, the bugs upset Mrs. Peabody's very snooty tea party. This sequel to Maybelle in the Soup offers a full course of nondemanding humor for young readers.
32 pp.
| Philomel
| May, 2008
|
TradeISBN 978-0-399-24756-9$16.99
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Britt Spencer.
Good-natured yokel Quantz gets fleas from a dog. He then trades them for a passerby's annoying uncle, whom he trades for some Limburger cheese, and so on, until he's left with what he thinks is a worthless bone. Told with a rural twang and illustrated with comical down-home mixed-media illustrations, the story stays one satisfying step ahead of readers to the end.
48 pp.
| Harcourt
| June, 2007
|
TradeISBN 978-0-15-205813-5$12.95
(2)
PS
[Author2=Illustrator2]Wordless pop art–style cartoons chronicle the day-long obsession of a terrier with a flea problem. The dog's on a mission to follow the flea; his journey is a series of comical encounters. Without text, simple black lines and dots do the speaking. In the final scene, man's best friend is curled up asleep alongside dog's best friend--his bug.
58 pp.
| Holt
| September, 2007
|
TradeISBN 978-0-8050-8092-6$15.95
(2)
1-3
Illustrated by
Paul Rátz de Tagyos.
This book introduces an unlikely pair of protagonists--Maybelle, a stylish cockroach, and Henry, a wise flea. Henry lays low, but Maybelle craves adventure. Illustrations from a variety of perspectives reinforce the humor, and spot art breaks up large chunks of text. The capitalization of certain words and phrases helps children recognize nuances of tone.
Reviewer: Betty Carter
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
November, 2007
32 pp.
| Harcourt/Red Wagon
| March, 2005
|
TradeISBN 0-15-205620-3$9.95 New ed. (1984)
(3)
PS
Illustrated by
Don Wood.
This "lap-sized board book" edition of the popular cumulative story retains the charm of the original (and improves on previous smaller-sized board book editions).