MR. MOSQUITO PUT ON HIS TUXEDO

Everyone is a-buzz because the ball is about to begin! Mr. Mosquito, debonair in his top hat and tails, makes a grand entrance. Cockroaches, bedbugs, gnats and fleas—all are resplendent in Roaring Twenties attire. But wait. Eeeeeegad! What is that? An enormous bear is headed straight toward the party. Amidst the shrieking ladybugs and freaking fireflies, Mr. Mosquito gallantly steps forward, gathering his relatives and leading the charge: “Prepare! Point antennae! Deploy! / We swarm out tonight / to drive BIG FEET from sight. / Are you ready? Get set. Go annoy!!!!” Morrow’s staccato rhymes propel the story with a jaunty beat and inspire an exalted tone for a read-aloud—quite fitting for such an elegant occasion. As expected, bug puns abound in both text and art (some more forced than others), but Goembel’s insects are impeccably precise, even while dripping in beads and feathers. Pair this gala with Dee Lillegard’s The Big Bug Ball (1999), illustrated by Rex Barron, and storytime will become the social event of the year. Six-legged black tie required. (Picture book. 4-8)