STINK BUG SAVES THE DAY!

This retelling of the well-known parable is anything but staid: The travelers who need help are a family of roly-poly bugs, and the Good Samaritan is a stinkbug whose insect name describes his most apparent (but not most important) characteristic. After a gang of meddlesome biker flies attacks the father of the roly-poly bug family, he is left injured by the side of the road. A squad of marching ants and a trio of butterflies pass by, but all refuse to help until the stinkbug kindly comes to the rescue. Cartoon-style illustrations in a muted, moody palette are organized sequentially in multiple panels, with speech balloons in brighter colors and a jazzy typeface, augmented by witty details of the insects’ anthropomorphic world. The droll, rhyming text offers additional humor in a punchy, rap style that begs to be read aloud. Though the parable is handled lightheartedly, it cleverly conveys all the essential elements of the story in a memorable way that children will enjoy. (Picture book/religion. 4-8)