Snug as a Bug

FROM OUR EDITORS

The Barnes & Noble Review
A bevy of bugs are snuggling up for bedtime in this darling picture book from nature author Michael Elsohn Ross, illustrated by Hush Little Baby creator Sylvia Long. Brimming with scenes of proud parents nurturing their sleepy little critters, this outdoorsy book shows kids that even the smallest creatures love a comfortable place to curl up. Ross's verses flit along breezily like a butterfly -- "It's time for a kiss. It's time for a hug. Get ready to sleep / as snug as a bug" -- asking readers to "Stretch out your legs on a soft, silky web" like a pj'd spider, "Lounge in luxury on a cool couch of green" just like a caterpillar, and "Cuddle in a huddle in a grove of tall trees" like a family of happy ladybugs. But wherever you hunker down for the night, do like these insects do, and always remember to "Rest cozy. Nap happy. Dream like a slug." Long's artwork is the perfect complement to Ross's text, adding the right amount of sweetness, feelings of safety, and fun. The illustrator's use of vivid nature colors and close-up perspectives might spark your child's curiosity about bugs (leaving them to wonder if that bee might be taking a snooze), while the book's downy-soft message will have them resting easy. With this sleepytime soother close at hand, your cuddle-bug will have dreams as cheerful as a fly "on a dirty old sock." Matt Warner

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Award-winning artist Sylvia Long has teamed up with author and naturalist Michael Elsohn Ross to create a truly enchanting bedtime book. From goodnight stories to goodnight kisses, the simple, cozy text celebrates the special bedtime rituals that are so beloved by both parent and child. With its colorful butterflies, cozy caterpillars and dreamy ladybugs — all in their cutest pajamas — this is a book that readers will want to snuggle up with again and again.

Author Biography: Michael Elsohn Ross is an author and naturalist with over 35 children's books to his credit. He lives in a Yosemite National Park Administrative Site with his wife and son. Sylvia Long is the illustrator of several books for children including the best sellers Ten Little Rabbits and Alejandro's Gift. Ms. Long's detailed paintings are inspired by her love of animals and the outdoors. She lives in Arizona.

FROM THE CRITICS

Children's Literature - Trina Heidt

Lyrical verse and magical illustrations combine to bring only adorable in fantasy insect families to life. A colorful concord of creatures fills every page as mother and child families find comfort in each other and their bedtime rituals. The beauty and detail in every illustration will delight the very young and bring a sense of calm to their own nighttime routines. The text is also very soothing with short rhythmic sentences that soften the senses with each sleepy-time suggestion. While the text and the illustrations could each stand alone, together, they make a beautiful book perfect for sharing. 2004, Chronicle Books, Ages 3 to 5.

School Library Journal

PreS-K-Insects, worms, and slugs curl up in roses, slumber under leaves, and doze in shells in this bedtime rhyme. While some of Ross's verses are clever ("Cuddle in a huddle/in a grove of tall trees"), others are odd or uninviting ("Snooze away softly/in a puddle of sap"). Long's watercolor illustrations of well-dressed animals are playful, but the complicated sleepwear looks out of place on creatures with antennae, multiple legs, and wings, and the white backgrounds make it seem as if the bugs are going to bed in full daylight. While the book's title and premise are droll, the realization is lackluster.-Rachel G. Payne, Brooklyn Public Library, NY Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews