Hank's Big Day: The Story of a Bug

Starting in the morning, at his home under a big rock, readers shadow Hank the pill bug for a day in his life. Hank has a breakfast of dead leaf and then sets off on a detailed and exciting journey past other small ground-dwellers ("a curious cricket," "a weird worm," "a scary grasshopper. Yikes!"), up his "exercise stick," and across a big sidewalk to meet a friend. Cleverly designed, the book tells the story through droll narration ("He stops to inspect a rainbow made of chalk") paired with editorializing labels from Hank's perspective on the corresponding picture ("some stripey art"). Vulnerable Hank's small size and wide eyes make mundane objects such as bottle caps and skateboards into gripping plot points, until at last he comes face to face with his best friend, a human child dressed as her namesake and hero, Amelia Earhart. Hank crawls onto her helmet, and she races around the yard like a plane, giving Hank (and readers, too) "an amazing view of the world!" The digital illustrations capture Hank's personality and charmingly convey his bug's-eye vantage point through details, size, and changes in perspective. Like this small bug's life, the book encompasses more than one might first imagine as it celebrates special friendships and the adventure one can discover in day-to-day life. julie roach

Readers shadow Hank the pill bug for a day as he journeys past other small ground-dwellers, up his "exercise stick," and across a big sidewalk to meet his best friend (a human child). Cleverly designed, the book tells the story through droll narration paired with editorializing picture labels. Digital illustrations capture Hank's personality and charmingly convey his bug's-eye vantage point through details, size, and changes in perspective.