PEST IN SHOW

Backyard insect thespians Ladybug and her pesky younger brother Fly compete to star in this hilarious pun-filled performance, sure to tickle the fancy of fun- and pun-loving youngsters and would-be young stars.

Although some of the allusions (Bugspray, Pestside Story and Thoroughly Modern Millipede) may be over their heads, children will surely identify with the competition between siblings and recognize the parodies of “classic” songs. “Spiders,” composed by Wolfspider Amadeus Mozart, is sung to the tune of “The Itsy Bitsy Spider,” for instance, and “Ladybug,” by Earwig van Beethoven, to the tune of “The Wheels on the Bus.” Theatrically lit acts include a supporting cast of costumed ladybugs, butterflies, spiders, assorted bugs and even worms. A playbill complete with appropriately themed advertisements adds to the fun. Jamieson’s collage-and-acrylic illustrations revel in the goofiness, clothing Ladybug in a frilly red dress with black polka dots and a feathery pink boa and plastering an irritating little-brother grin all over Fly’s face. The Busby Berkeley– inspired “Ladybug” number is hysterical. As Roger Fleabert’s blurb on the book’s cover says, “Six thumbs up!”

This silly read-, dance- and sing-aloud could be a smash hit.