Hey There, Stink Bug!

Bulion, Lesley. 2006. HEY THERE, STINK BUG! Ill. by Leslie Evans. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge. ISBN 158089304X [Suggested Grade Levels 3-6]

REVIEW
HEY THERE, STINK BUG! introduces readers to the fascinating world of insects through poetry. Each page features a poem dedicated to a type of bug such as “Fooled by the Lights” about a firefly. A brief description is then included with factual information about the insect. The facts that Lesley Bulion shares are ones that readers will find amusing, unexpected, and sometimes gross. For example, “skipper butterfly caterpillars shoot their frass [solid food waste that comes out of the back end of an insect] pellets more than three feet away from their homes. Hungry wasps are fooling into looking in the wrong place for a bite to eat.”

A “Poetry Notes” section is included in the back of the book along with a glossary and additional resources. A brief explanation is given about each poem in the book. The illustrated pictures of each insect help readers “see” the subjects of the poems. HEY THERE, STINK BUG! is a fun way to use poetry while reading about an interesting and entertaining subject.

CONNECTIONS
Only a sampling of bugs is represented in HEY THERE, STINK BUG! Have children research insects that are not included in the book and create additional pages. Readers should write a poem, find some interesting facts to include, and draw a picture of the bug. Collect all of the pages and make a book out of the readers’ work.

RELATED BOOKS
Other books about insects and poetry:
Fleischman, Paul. JOYFUL NOISE. ISBN 0064460932
Florian, Douglas. INSECTLOPEDIA. ISBN 0152013067


By Mary D. Buckalo