August 22, 2011
Ladybug Girl’s sidekick Bumblebee Boy gets a story of his own in this entry in Soman and Davis’s series, an account of a playtime truce between Sam and his younger brother, Owen. The husband-and-wife team bounce between spreads of Sam as Bumblebee Boy immersed in superhero fantasies—fighting Greenbeard the Evil Pirate or the Fire Dragon—with real-life intrusions in the form of eager Owen. “But I am soup hero too!” Owen cries as he tries to keep up with Sam, who isn’t interested in sharing his games. Or is he? As in their previous titles, Soman and Davis demonstrate a sweet-tempered understanding of children’s conflicting feelings: “It was kind of fun when Owen helped catch the bank robbers, but Sam is still not sure if he is ready to play with anybody else.” The contrast between Sam’s brawny superhero exploits and the humble domestic scenes from which they derive (the Giant Saber-Toothed Lion is the family kitty, the lunar surface a quilt) will charm readers, and so will the cute-as-a-button Owen in his blankie cape and aviator’s hat with flaps. Ages 3–5.
September 15, 2011
Bumblebee Boy is back in his own adventure in this imaginative romp through the sometimes complex world of big-brotherhood.
In his striped shirt and purple mask and cape, Sam, a.k.a. Bumblebee Boy, fights his evil enemies. But his crime fighting is constantly interrupted by his little brother, who wants to play, too. Torn between wanting not to be mean to Owen but still hoping to play alone, Sam puts Owen off by saying he cannot play because he is not a superhero. Undaunted, Owen returns with a cape, only to be told that is not enough to face the Fire Dragon, nor is the "mask" he has chosen quite right for taming Giganto, the Giant Saber-Toothed Lion. But regardless of Owen's attire, Bumblebee Boy sure appreciates the help of the tiny "soup hero" in cutting off the bank robbers' escape. And he actively seeks out Owen's help in defeating a bunch of aliens on the moon. But will Owen agree to play with him, or is he too much involved in his own imaginary game now? A little compromise and some brotherly love save the day in the end. Soman's artwork is a delightful foray into the realm of make-believe, nicely balancing the props that Sam is using against what he imagines them to be. And Owen's interferences are delightfully tongue-in-cheek—the tot hangs on to the fierce Fire Dragon's tale and tames Giganto with a belly rub.
Super on so many levels. (Picture book. 3-7)
(COPYRIGHT (2011) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)
November 1, 2011
PreS-Gr 1-"Bum Ba BUM BUMM!" Sam, aka Bumblebee Boy-featured in two of the popular "Ladybug Girl" books-now has a story all to himself...or does he? In Soman's terrific watercolor and fine-line illustrations, rife with dramatic perspectives, he is just about to defeat Greenbeard the Pirate...Fire Dragon...Giganto, the Giant Saber-Toothed Lion...when he is yanked back into living-room reality by his little brother. "'I play now?'" asks the small blond boy in a star-and-comet sleepsuit, "'...I am soup hero too!'" Even children who are sibling-free will get the message and the fun in this engaging tale about brothers, imagination, frustration, and cozy compromise.-Susan Weitz, formerly at Spencer-Van Etten School District, Spencer, NY
Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
December 1, 2011
Preschool-G Batman had Robin, but superhero Bumblebee Boy doesn't want a sidekick, especially not his little brother. Bumblebee Boy appeared in Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy (2009), but in this title, he's the star of the show. As he encounters evil pirates, fire-breathing dragons, and bank robbers, Bumblebee Boy flies alone, despite pleas from his brother to join in the adventures. Then aliens attacktoo many for one person to hold at bay. Young children will relate to Bumblebee Boy's imaginative play and will surely want to chime in with the noisy refrain, filled with superhero drama BUM BA BUM BUM! The text is well paced, with a nice twist at the end, and the watercolor-and-ink illustrations greatly enhance story as they show the transformations from everyday into fantasy: a cardboard box lying on the floor becomes a race car in Bumblebee Boy's fantasy; Rhubarb the cat becomes a lion. A good choice for story time, Bumblebee Boy is sure to be a hit with Ladybug Girl fans, as well as the zillions of superhero wannabes out there.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)
January 1, 2012
In this Ladybug Girl spin-off, Sam doesn't want little brother Owen to mess up Sam's imaginary adventures as alter-ego Bumblebee Boy. While Owen accumulates his own superhero accessories, Sam rejects his help until realizing it's more fun to save the world with a partner. The illustrations are dynamic, but the text is wordy (and Owen's baby-talk dialogue won't win over older kids).
(Copyright 2012 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
September 15, 2011
Bumblebee Boy is back in his own adventure in this imaginative romp through the sometimes complex world of big-brotherhood.
In his striped shirt and purple mask and cape, Sam, a.k.a. Bumblebee Boy, fights his evil enemies. But his crime fighting is constantly interrupted by his little brother, who wants to play, too. Torn between wanting not to be mean to Owen but still hoping to play alone, Sam puts Owen off by saying he cannot play because he is not a superhero. Undaunted, Owen returns with a cape, only to be told that is not enough to face the Fire Dragon, nor is the "mask" he has chosen quite right for taming Giganto, the Giant Saber-Toothed Lion. But regardless of Owen's attire, Bumblebee Boy sure appreciates the help of the tiny "soup hero" in cutting off the bank robbers' escape. And he actively seeks out Owen's help in defeating a bunch of aliens on the moon. But will Owen agree to play with him, or is he too much involved in his own imaginary game now? A little compromise and some brotherly love save the day in the end. Soman's artwork is a delightful foray into the realm of make-believe, nicely balancing the props that Sam is using against what he imagines them to be. And Owen's interferences are delightfully tongue-in-cheek--the tot hangs on to the fierce Fire Dragon's tale and tames Giganto with a belly rub.
Super on so many levels. (Picture book. 3-7)
(COPYRIGHT (2011) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)