Hustle Bustle Bugs by Catherine Bailey, illustrated by Lauren Eldridge

 Somewhat awkward rhymes accompany fascinating mixed-media art and longer explanations to create an attractive, informational book about bugs.

Two Black girls appear briefly at the beginning and end of the picture book, then the viewer is taken in for a close-up view of dung beetles, ladybugs, grasshoppers, termites, butterflies, and more. Each spread includes posed bugs created from clay, putty, foil, and a background of found objects and items from nature.

I did find some of the rhymes labored, "Spiders plan perfect traps/with lacy nets that won't collapse." But nonfiction and informational picture books for me will always be a focus on the dialogue between reader and listener, and less the focus on a perfectly scanning text to read aloud. The additional information is placed on little sticky notes attached to the artwork.

Back matter includes additional bug facts and a note from the artist on her process.

Verdict: I am always looking for new bug books to use in storytime, and while this one is not perfect, the unique artwork stands out and it's a strong addition to storytime collections.

ISBN: 9780759557406; Published February 2022 by Little, Brown; Borrowed from another library in my consortium; Purchased for the library