Burt the Beetle Lives Here!

April 15, 2023
Burt checks out all the places other insects can live, but none seems quite right for a June bug. Can a ten-lined June beetle with sticky arms and a fondness for hugs find a comfy home? Alas, as our hero discovers in this follow-up to Burt the Beetle Doesn't Bite! (2021), not in the tunnels of yellow meadow ants or in the nests of cathedral termites, not in human houses like stink bugs or in a spittlebug's shelter ("I made this with my bum! Want a tour?"), nor with bees or wasps or tent caterpillars. Spires sandwiches this informative look at where and in what insects live between cartoonish galleries of real estate-style listings trumpeting a beehive's "quality craftsmanship," the "charming layout" of a wasp nest, the "open floor plan" of a flea's furry backside domicile, and so on, then closes with pages of additional facts about select insect builders. She doesn't leave her six-legged house hunter unprotected from predators and the elements either, as a simple leaf turns out to be not only excellent shelter for one...but big enough to fit an entire coterie of chance met new friends of diverse species: "GROUP HUG!" "Bring it in, everybody!" Whether a massive network of tunnels or a single leaf, that's one good way to make a house a home. A wide-ranging survey of insect homes delivered with humor and heart. (Graphic nonfiction. 6-9)

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June 1, 2023

K-Gr 6-Burt the Beetle is back and hilarious as ever, and his journey to find a home makes this second outing even funnier. Burt the June beetle needs a home. He meets many different types of insects that can do many things and live in many different places. But all homes are not alike, and Burt explains each home he visits with easy-to-understand facts and humor. Spires teaches readers about insects, their habitats, and so much more. As Burt realizes he can't live in quite the same way other insects do, he is sad about not having a dream home of his own. He learns that shelter is very important to him, but so is friendship. Spires has a dry humor that even older kids will enjoy. Her graphics are simple, colorful, and easy to follow. The clear panel graphics will help younger readers learn how comics are read. This title would be a great social emotional learning (SEL) text for all readers, as Burt is positive and cares about all his other bug friends and respects their living styles; it would also be a great choice for science lessons on living things. VERDICT Emergent readers and fans of comics will enjoy getting to know Burt in this recommended title.-Jacquetta Etheridge

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