BOING! A Bouncy Book of Bugs

By Author / Illustrator
James Carter, illus Neal Layton
Genre
Environment & Nature
Age range(s)
3+
Publisher
Otter-Barry Books
ISBN
9781915659507
Format
Hardback
Published
09-01-2025
Synopsis
Bestselling poet James Carter and illustrator Neal Layton love bugs and minibeasts and here they celebrate them all - from grasshoppers, ladybirds and dung beetles to moths, flies, wasps - and even bedbugs. Including the extraordinary tardigrades who can live in outer space.
With 24 poems, including shape poems, riddles, rhyming poems and free verse, plus amazing and informative facts about each bug or minibeast on every page, the world of insects is brought buzzing to life, matched by Neal Layton's bugtiful colour illustrations.
Reviews
Sue
If it jiggles just a little, or its home is in the mud, or it wiggles down its middle… oh indeed - it's a bug! Exuberant, energetic and engaging, Boing! A Bouncy Book of Bugs not only offers a collection of 24 poems about insects, but plenty of fascinating facts as well.
All manner of insects are included from ants to moths, fireflies to bed bugs. Each spread is full of brightly coloured, appealing illustrations which capture the mood and theme of the verse. Children are sure to admire the strength of the mighty dung beetle, be fascinated by the Elephant Tear Moth and perhaps learn to appreciate the 'woefully under-appreciated' wasp.
For teachers, the book offers great potential! Many of the poems here would make brilliant performance pieces for classes, individuals or pairs - 'The Moth and the Moon', for example, or 'Boing!', which (like many in the collection) is perfect for adding movements to! The variety of poetic forms used is great for introducing young children to some of the different styles which can be used and might also be used as models to inspire their own writing. 'Me No Dragon' shows how successfully kenning poems can be used as a way of describing something. But above all, the poems are fun, sure to engage and be enjoyed!
32 pages / Reviewed by Sue Wilsher, teacher
Suggested Reading Age 3+