Product Description

Prunella loves bugs. She's always eager to share her bug knowledge, even if others don't always want to listen. So she's aflutter to shine the spotlight on one of her favorite bugs at show-and-tell. On the big day, though, Prunella's plan is squashed when a swarm of bees invades her classroom! Luckily, Prunella has an idea. And like a true queen, she leads the bees safely to a new hive. Her teacher is impressed! Her classmates cheer! But what does Prunella do? She shares more bug facts, of course, and her audience couldn't beeeee more delighted.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #260915 in Books
• Published on: 2007-01-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 32 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780439676090
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3—Prunella knows a lot about bugs, but no one has time to listen—not her parents, the bus driver, or her teacher. She waits patiently for her turn at show-and-tell only to have a swarm of bees invade her classroom. When everyone else runs away, the quick-thinking child covers herself with a white sheet and leads the swarm to a new hive, all the while explaining the behavior of the insects. With peace restored, she wins the undivided attention of her classmates with her dung beetle, one of "nature's pooper-scoopers." Gran uses watercolors, dark outlines, and a cartoon style to bring Prunella's story to life. While her teacher and classmates sometimes fade into a monochromatic background, the girl stands out, resembling the bugs she loves. Her wispy hair, tied with red ribbons on either side of her large head, resembles spider legs. Her sleeves might be dragonfly wings, her skirt could be a ladybug, and her stockings are the black and yellow stripes of bee bodies. Reminiscent of Megan McDonald's Insects Are My Life (Scholastic, 1995), this book enlightens and informs with tidbits of information and a fact sheet. It's a clever introduction to entomology.—Mary Jean Smith, Southside Elementary School, Lebanon, TN
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Customer Reviews

Bugsapalooza!!
Prunella, the protagonist of Julia Gran's compelling Big Bug Surprise is from her antennae like braids and big bug eyes down to her black and yellow bee's knees stockings, all bug. In case the reader missed the point, Gran gives us a look at her room which among other bug wonders contains an ant farm, a bee clock and mobile, a poster of a wasp ala da Vinci, and a grasshopper sculpture of The Thinker that would have made Rodin proud. The one fly in the ointment however is Prunella's total inability to interest the adult world in her bug universe. Neither her parents, the school bus driver, nor her teacher at school have any time for Prunella's passion. Her entreaties to peak their curiosity all end with the grown up intoning, " Not now, Prunella". She on the other hand persists and when it is "show and tell" day at school it is as predictable as ants at a picnic what life form she'll bring.

The members of the supporting cast in this small volume could each be the protagonist of her own book. Ms. Mantis the school teacher is all pointy elbows and nose to go along with her nettlesome personality. The bees in the story are always smiling and seem quite contented with their sweet centered existence. A wonderful spider who appears on each page is Prunella's trusty side kick much as Beaker is with his muppet pal Dr. Bunsen Honeydew.

The action virtually bounces off the pages of this fine tightly woven tale whose moral is the benefit of following one's own bliss. But don't expect me to reveal any more or what the big bug surprise might be. Go get your own copy but please, don't bug me.

Girly Girl Ends Up Liking Bugs!!!
This beautifully illustrated book about a little girl who saves the day with her extensive bug knowledge has a very special spread where all the kids in Prunella's classroom are gagging and eee-ewing at Prunella's show-and-tell story about the dung beetle. The response you'll get from little boys and girls when you turn to these pages and read the exclamations with zest is worth every penny you'll spend on this book. I have no doubt that Ms. Gran will become a favorite author of many a preschooler for years to come!

A fun tale of bugs and hidden abilities
Julia Gran's BIG BUG SURPRISE tells of Prunella, who is eager to share her big bug surprise at show and tell. But a bigger bug surprise awaits the classroom and sends her teacher and classmates into a frenzy. Can Prunella's bug knowledge save the day? A fun tale of bugs and hidden abilities will delight young picturebook readers and libraries catering to them.