As a digital subscriber, you’ll receive unlimited access to Horn Book web exclusives and extensive archives, as well as access to our highly searchable Guide/Reviews Database.
To access other site content, visit The Horn Book homepage.
To continue you need an active subscription to hbook.com.
Subscribe now to gain immediate access to everything hbook.com has to offer, as well as our highly searchable Guide/Reviews Database, which contains tens of thousands of short, critical reviews of books published in the United States for young people.
Thank you for registering. To have the latest stories delivered to your inbox, select as many free newsletters as you like below.
No thanks. Return to article
(2)
K-3
Illustrated by
Olivia Sua.
"Water days are busy days, grateful, laughing, thirsty days." A young girl tells of her Cuban neighborhood's experience of the "water man's" once-every-five-days visit to deliver water for all the residents' needs. Engle's narrator shares all parts of the process breezily, from the lyrical way Bisabuelita talks to her fruit trees, telling them "she'll soon get their toes wet," to less pleasant realities like having to wait "to flush the stinky toilet. Ick." The "fish lady" bikes into town next and lets the girl add mosquito larvae–eating fish to the family's water supply, helping to prevent the spread of disease. Sua's painted cut-paper illustrations in a rich pastel color palette are as inviting as the girl's cheerful voice, which grows somber when recounting Bisabuelita's memories about how the neighborhood's water has dried up since she was young. The book culminates with an image of the family using their replenished water and a line that sums up how this tightly knit group views water day: "a river of joy that flows for my whole thirsty familia." Back matter includes an author's note about Engle's inspiration for the story, as well as information on the global water crisis and mosquitofish.
(4)
K-3
Xtreme Insects series.
This series acquaints young readers with different types of insects. Each formulaic book includes a simple introduction of the genus, a discussion of body parts, and brief paragraphs on various species; edibility by humans and potential medical uses are also considered. Colorful, zoomed-in photographs vary in quality but will engage insect enthusiasts. "Xtreme fact" sidebars extend the texts. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Xtreme Insects titles: Butterflies, Crickets, Dragonflies, Grasshoppers, Mosquitoes, and Moths.
(3)
4-6
Lowriders series.
Illustrated by
Raúl the Third.
Elirio, a mosquito with artistic talent, and his friends, an impala and an octopus, share a love of lowrider cars and have mutual bullies--members of a car club known as Los Matamoscas. Spanish words (and their translations) are sprinkled throughout this humorous graphic novel about lowrider culture, friendship, and standing up for oneself. Raúl the Third's distinctive pen drawings burst with energy and visual gags. Bib., glos.
(3)
PS
An omniscient narrator notes that mosquitoes bite everyone but ninjas, who are simply quicker and sneakier. A kid in ninja attire is on hand to demonstrate the ninja's athletic and mental superiority. But there's some seriously (and hilariously) non-ninja-like behavior exhibited in the cartoony digitally colored ink drawings when the ninja vanquishes a mosquito via sandwich: Who says ninjas can't bite mosquitoes?
128 pp.
| Groundwood
| May, 2015
|
TradeISBN 978-1-55498-437-4$14.95
|
EbookISBN 978-1-55498-439-8
(3)
1-3
Illustrated by
Erica Salcedo.
In this charming fantasy about a city mosquito who's afraid of flying, the hero is named Dinnn--with three ns, which ensures appropriate humming sounds whenever his name is spoken. His adventurous journey to visit relatives in the Wild is related with tongue-in-cheek humor. Readers willing to root for a typically annoying creature will find plenty to enjoy, including spindly black-and-white illustrations.
104 pp.
| Houghton
| September, 2009
|
TradeISBN 978-0-618-96581-6$19.00
(2)
4-6
In this dramatic medical history, Jurmain documents the efforts of researchers in 1900 Cuba to prove or disprove the "mosquito theory" of yellow fever's transmission--by contracting the disease themselves. Above all, it's a thrilling account of the scientific process in action and of how conducting good science can involve personal risk. The succinct chapters are generously illustrated with period photos. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind.
32 pp.
| Holiday
| March, 2009
|
TradeISBN 978-0-8234-2072-8$16.95
(2)
K-3
Illustrated by
Ponder Goembel.
Morrow's text buzzes along in bouncy rhyme as tuxedo-clad Mr. Mosquito arrives at the insect ball, joins in the dancing, then helps save the day after a bear threatens the festivities. The story's wit is amplified by Goembel's ink and acrylic wash pictures starring festively costumed insects that are fairly anatomically accurate without being repugnant to the bug-phobic.
32 pp.
| Heinemann
| July, 2006
|
LibraryISBN 1-4034-8300-0$25.36
|
PaperISBN 1-4034-8313-2$7.99 New ed. (1998)
(4)
K-3
Bug Books series.
Each revised volume includes short chapters of information such as how the animal is born, what it eats, and what makes it unique (snails and worms don't technically belong in this series). The uncluttered design includes many close-up photos and new "bug maps" that identify body parts. Although the text is choppy in places, the engaging tone makes the books informative. There are six other fall 2006 books in this series. Glos., ind. Review covers these Bug Books titles: Mosquito, Worm, Ant, Bee, Ladybug, and Snail.
24 pp.
| Raintree
| April, 2005
|
LibraryISBN 1-4109-1507-7$26.51
|
PaperISBN 1-4109-1512-3$6.00
(3)
PS
Creepy Creatures series.
These books introduce children to the anatomy, life cycle, food, and homes of three insects and an invertebrate. Color photos with brief text in circles, which resemble thought-bubbles, create an eye-catching layout. Additional information about the animal is included at the end of the book. Glos., ind. Review covers these Creepy Creatures titles: Ants, Bees, Earthworms, and Mosquitoes.
(4)
K-3
Minibeasts Up Close series.
These books cover the anatomy, life cycle, and habits of insects in easy-to-read, straightforward (if somewhat flat) informational text. Clear headers help with comprehension. The close-up photos extend the text, and text boxes provide additional facts. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Minibeasts Up Close titles: Ants Up Close, Bees Up Close, Cockroaches Up Close, Head Lice Up Close, Mosquitoes Up Close, and Spiders Up Close.
40 pp.
| Hyperion
| June, 2004
|
TradeISBN 0-7868-1955-3$$15.99
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Henry Cole.
In his third book, the marvelously mustachioed Moose organizes a reunion of moose kin from Moosachusetts to Moosissippi. Bad puns, silly wordplay, and a truly ridiculous climax full of unwelcome moosekitos may make some kids giggle, but the slapstick is too overwrought to be truly funny. Nevertheless, the illustrations of cavorting moose relatives in swimsuits and PJs are quite a hoot.
128 pp.
| Enslow
| August, 2001
|
LibraryISBN 0-7660-1597-1$$20.95
(4)
YA
Diseases and People series.
Using numerous stories of affected people, the books in this series explore the history, symptoms, treatments, consequences, and public health aspects of the diseases discussed. The organization is haphazard and sometimes repeats information, but the coverage is thorough and readable. Charts, questions and answers, time lines, and black-and-white photos and diagrams round out the presentation. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Diseases and People titles: Malaria, West Nile, and Other Mosquito-Borne Diseases; Polio; Hemophilia.]
32 pp.
| Groundwood
| June, 2001
|
TradeISBN 0-88899-430-3$$15.95
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Gloria Calderon.
A buzzing mosquito disturbs the sleep of two young children, causing them to escape out their window into the jungle where they encounter such animals as a howling monkey, a coral snake, and an alligator. A fanciful flight on the back of an owl returns them to their beds. The narrative, a translation from the original Spanish, is awkward in places, but the colorful illustrations, which resemble woodcuts, are accomplished.
32 pp.
| Child's
| November, 2000
|
LibraryISBN 1-56766-635-3$$24.21
(3)
K-3
Naturebooks series.
The gross-out factor will no doubt make these popular with young readers looking for mildly shocking research topics. These well-organized books contain solid introductory information about topics such as appearance, different species, reproduction, and food. The close-up photographs make many of the subjects look appropriately monstrous. Glos., ind.
32 pp.
| Heinemann
| September, 1998
|
LibraryISBN 1-57572-663-7$$19.92
(4)
K-3
Bug Books series.
Double-page chapters written in an informative, engaging tone examine the life cycle of the butterfly (including facts about hatching, metamorphosis, and reproduction) and the ways in which social insects such as ants, termites, and bees work together to survive and thrive. Though the books' design is often crowded, the color photos and descriptive illustrations work well to augment the texts. Bib., glos., ind.