Book Summary: Ace Lacewing is a detective. His job in this book is to try to crack the case behind Queenie Bee's kidnapping. He questions many suspects along the way. With the help of his friends Doctor Xerces Blue and Sergeant Zito, Ace is able to crack the case.
My Impressions: This is an entertaining mystery for younger kids. It contains all the elements of a traditional mystery in a picture book format. The colorful illustrations will attract readers to this book. I love the insect characters, and the author does a good job of telling the story while adding humor along the way. This is a book that kids will want to read again and again.
Professional Review: Gr 1-4 --Motham City is abuzz with the kidnapping of Queenie Bee, and Ace Lacewing, the Sam Spade of insects, is on the case. His motto is, "Bad bugs are my business." Lacewing follows the trail of honey with the help of his gal, Doctor Xerces Blue, and Sergeant Zito, a mosquito. A motley (and sometimes molting) assortment of suspects is questioned. Their character traits are based on facts: "The roaches said of course they ran from the scene of the crime-it was their nature to scatter when the lights go on." Puns and wordplay abound: "I've known him ever since we were pupae at the same school"; "The full moon hung in the sky like a large compound eye...." The digitally enhanced illustrations evoke a film noir atmosphere, with moody blue and black backgrounds. The pages are also brimming with humorous details such as glowworm street lamps, "Bug Off" police tape, and "Slow Larvae" road signs. This clever parody of hard-boiled detective stories is sure to tickle readers' thorax.
Ludke, L. (2005, September). [Review of Ace Lacewing: Bug detective by D. Biedrzycki]. School Library Journal, 51(8), 85-85. Retrieved from www.schoollibraryjournal.com
Library Uses: This book would be good to use for a storytime on books with insects as characters.
No comments:
Post a Comment