Lily Murray is a rockstar name in my nephew’s house. Why? Because she wrote the Dinosaurium book in the “Welcome to the Museum” series. My nephew loves that book. Name any dinosaur in the book, and he can immediately turn to the page featuring that dinosaur. It’s uncanny. (Seriously, especially for parents, aunts and uncles, grandparents, and caregivers looking to find a fun educational series to help with the apparently ongoing homeschool shuffle.)
Okay, so Dinosaurium is great, but why am I bringing up Lily Murray? Because she recently released (with illustrator Britta Teckentrup) another educational picture book, Bugs Everywhere (Big Picture Press). And it’s good. I mean Dinosaurium-level good.
Bugs Everywhere is, like its Big Picture Press fellows in the “Welcome to the Museum” series, essentially an illustrated encyclopedia for young children. It’s excellent, though, and Murray has proven herself more than capable of writing captivating and succinct entries effective at keeping a toddler interested.
Britta Teckentrup
The book discusses the insects of the rainforest, web-weaving bugs, communal-living bugs, camouflage, life cycles, and migrations. It’s a great step toward facilitating other conversations — about biodiversity, movement, and the way humans interact with the world around us. There is even a section about the bugs humans have revered, eaten, and kept as pets over the years.
What really sets Bugs Everywhere apart, though, are Teckentrup’s stunning illustrations. Her creatures look sun-dappled or mottled by protective camouflage, their texture implied by Teckentrup’s skillful use of color. They look real and alive — while still appearing clearly to be illustrations, thereby cutting down on the creepy-crawly factor for any adults reading this book to a younger audience.
When it really comes down to it, though, what makes this reviewer so certain Bugs Everywhere is sure to be a hit with the kids is this: I showed my nephew a few of the pages on a Zoom call, and he sat still the whole time. Points to Murray and Teckentrup.
Thank you to Cotton Tails, the place to find unique children's clothing and shoes, found in the Laurelwood Shopping Center, and Literacy Mid-South for sponsoring this children’s book review! Learn more about the various programs offered by Literacy Mid-South by visiting their site literacymidsouth.org and following them on Facebook and Instagram @literacymidsouth.