Author: Suzy Senior
Illustrator: Leire Martín
Publisher: Tiger Tales
Ages: 4-8
I love this picturebook.
Okay, now that that is out of the way, let me tell you why. A fable, in rhyming verse, The Hotel for Bugs tells the story of a brand-new hotel, with sparkling amenities, that has opened to serve the bug community!
The hotel features a spa, a pool, a larva club (for the kids!) and a buffet among its many offerings. It is the swankiest place in town! Senior’s verse is a wonder of cheeky rhymes, playfully mixing bug-like behaviors with hotel-guest actions.
They swarmed up the steps,
and they poured in the door.
They flocked to the light bulbs
and nibbled the floor.
They buzzed through the buffet,
and then with an
“Ahh” . . .
. . . they spotted the pool
and the fancy new spa!
Now go back and read that quotation again; but this time do it to the tune of the Beverly Hillbillies theme song–I’ll wait.
All is well in the hotel, until a SLUG tries to check in. The Slug, it seems, is not like the other hotel guests and is quickly refused access by the hotel manager. What happens next, turns this story into a tale of inclusion, advocacy, and a celebration of differences.
Bright, colorful, charmingly bug-eyed illustrations round out the text providing exquisite detail to not only support the verse, but also provide an avenue for additional storytelling. What is each bug thinking?
The Hotel for Bugs (should it be renamed?) is a wonderful addition to any classroom (and a sure hit at home too!). This one, you’ll eventually memorize–kids will want to read it again and again!
The Hotel for Bugs (Amazon)*
The Hotel for Bugs (Support an Independent Bookstore)*
My thanks to Tiger Tales for providing a Review Copy of this book. All opinions provided herein are my own.
More books for this Age Group can be found here.
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