Bothered by Bugs by Emily Gravett

If your class are talking about the balance of nature - the role of every tiny creature in an ecosystem - this book is simply perfect. 

Publisher blurb: Pete the Badger is choosing a delicious recipe from his new fruit cookbook when his peace is interrupted by a teeny tiny fly. The fly becomes a swarm and soon all the animals are being bothered by bugs and insects of all kinds . . . before helping Pete to rid the forest of every single one. Disaster! Now nobody's around to clean up the poo, and come autumn, there's not a berry or a cherry to be found. But the lesson is learned, the bugs are released, and order is restored to the forest once again.

Infused with humour, this superb picture book carries an important message about the natural world. Wonderful to read aloud, the witty, rhyming text provides rhythm and pace. Children will adore exploring the exquisitely detailed illustrations, particularly a sumptuous picnic on the final pages, which is crammed with delectable cakes, tarts, and summer puddings. Book Trust

Here is one of the irresistible illustrations:

Here are two another books by Emily Gravett featuring the same woodland animals:

The topic of eliminating one part of the natural food chain and how this can be catastrophic is beautifully explained in this picture book for young children (but I would also be happy to share Bothered by Bugs with an older group of students in Grades 3 and 4. And with your senior classes do make sure you explore this book:

Sparrow Girl

Have you ever felt so overwhelmed by all the books that you have not yet discovered? I feel like this every time I visit the fabulously well stocked library where I volunteer every week. Even if I had several lifetimes I am sure I could never discover every treasure held by this library. The Teacher-Librarian was very aware of this book by the famous author/illustrator Emily Gravett book and she shared it with me because it has been short listed for the 2026 UKLA Book Awards. It really is a very good idea to keep your eye on as many international children's book awards as you can from UK, USA, New Zealand, and Canada. I am so happy to have discovered Bothered by Bugs. Add this book to your library wish list today!

Here is a partial list of other books written and illustrated by Emily Gravett - you should try to add as many of these as you can afford to your school or local library:

• Wolves (2005)
• Orange Pear Apple Bear (2006)
• Meerkat Mail (2006)
• Little Mouse's Big Book of Fears (2007)
• Monkey and Me (2007)
• The Odd Egg (2008)
• Spells (2008)
• Dogs (2009)
• The Rabbit Problem (2009)
• Blue Chameleon (2010)
• Wolf Won't Bite! (2011)
• Again! (2011)
• Matilda's Cat (2 August 2012)[12]
• Little Mouse's Big Book of Beasts (2013)
• Bear and Hare: Go Fishing (2014)
• Bear and Hare: Snow! (2014)
• Bear and Hare: Where's Bear? (2015)
• Bear and Hare: Mine! (2016)
• Tidy (2016)
• Old Hat (2017)
• Cyril and Pat (2018)
• Meerkat Christmas (2019)
• Too Much Stuff (2020)
• 10 Cats (2022)
• 10 Dogs (2023)
• Bothered by Bugs (2024)
• Bear's Nap (2025)

It Fell from the Sky by The Fan Brothers

"The Inchworm insisted it only bounced twice."

"Everyone agreed it was the most amazing thing they had ever seen."

"A Frog assumed it was a gobstopper."

"The Stink Bug doubted that it fell from the sky at all."

"The Luna Moth knew it was not a comet or a star or a planet."

"The Spider assumed they must have left to spread the word ... "

Blurb: It fell from the sky on a Thursday. None of the insects know where it came from, or what it is. Some say it's an egg. Others, a gumdrop. But whatever it is, it fell near Spider's house, so he's convinced it belongs to him. Spider builds a wondrous display so that insects from far and wide can come look at the marvel. Spider has their best interests at heart. So what if he has to charge a small fee? So what if the lines are long? So what if no one can even see the wonder anymore? But what will Spider do after everyone stops showing up?

The Fans’ marvellous illustrations sparkle with nuance, from lofting dandelion seeds to the Spider’s dew-dropped web. Kirkus

This contemporary fable begins on its title page with a cat’s-eye marble falling to earth from the sky.  Horn Book

Here is an interview with Eric and Terry by Elizabeth Bird at the School Library Journal. And here is another interview with We Need Diverse Books. 

This is my new most favourite picture book. I would so love to own a copy but the hardcover price here in Australia is SO high. I will just need to keep my eyes open for a sale copy - hopefully.

Companion reads:

More

Babak the Beetle

Here is an article that compares this book with It Fell from the sky

The Midnight Fair

Have you met the Fan Brothers? Pardon the pun but I am a huge fan!

Ocean Meets Sky

Toad and I by Lousie Yates

A library colleague and I were recently bemoaning the way young children seem to have less word knowledge "these days". This Teacher-Librarian is exploring older classic picture books with Grade two  as a way to show the children newest titles, while good, are not the only books in the library and then to show them books that have certainly stood the test of time.  This week she showed them the classic story Frog and Toad (I am thinking you may have guessed this) and nearly every child had no idea what a toad was. These children are seven or even eight years old. We both felt this was amazing and perhaps even sad.

By coincidence I picked up this book - Toad and I - from the same library.  To enjoy this book you perhaps need to know what a toad is or perhaps the pictures help you although I will say the green guy in this book does look more like a frog.  You could compare him with the frog illustration by Max Velthuijs.

Anyway putting aside the issue of toads or frogs for a moment when you read this book you need to know your fairy tales.  Look at these lines:

"One day, Kitty was playing with her new bouncy ball when she bounced it a bit too hard and it flew over the fence and disappeared."  I immediately thought of the Frog Princess and her ball which fell into a well.

"Hello,' said a voice
'Hello,' said Kitty.
'Who's there?'
It was a toad.
Kitty kissed him to see if he would turn into a prince. ...
But he didn't."

Toad lives in an amazing tree house. While he is showing Kitty around Squirrel rushes in. Owl has been hit by a meteorite. Toad puts on some medical clothes, a nurses' uniform, and Kitty puts on a white lab coat and stethoscope. They rush to the observatory to check out the meteorites when a Shrew rushes in with news of a monster. The mayhem continues with an injured hedgehog and the threat of snakes and cats. Have you guessed the culprit?

"It was the ball that had bounced over the fence ... "

When everything is set to rights Toad says goodbye to Kitty and "then he kissed her. I wasn't trying to turn you into a princess' he said. 'Just saying goodbye."

Now turn the page for another clever twist.

This book is funny and slightly crazy and would be a terrific read aloud book for a pre-school child. You could use it to talk about cause and effect.  Take a look here to see other books by Louise Yates.

Just so you don't confuse toads with frogs here are two photos:

Image source: Kids Growing Strong