The Very Clumsy Click Beetle

Eric Carle's Very Series

by Eric Carle

When a little click beetle falls onto his back, he seeks the help of a wise old click beetle. "Look at me," says the more experienced click beetle, giving a loud CLICK and flipping onto its feet. But try as he might, the clumsy little click beetle just can't get the hang of it--or can he?

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Animals, Nature, Storytime, Kids

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 13, 1999

About the author

Eric Carle was an American author, designer and illustrator of children's books. His picture book The Very Hungry Caterpillar, first published in 1969, has been translated into more than 66 languages and sold more than 50 million copies. Carle's career as an illustrator and children's book author accelerated after he collaborated on Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?. Carle illustrated more than 70 books, most of which he also wrote, and more than 145 million copies of his books have been sold around the world.
In 2003, the American Library Association awarded Carle the biennial Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal (now called the Children's Literature Legacy Award), a prize for writers or illustrators of children's books published in the U.S. who have made lasting contributions to the field. Carle was also a U.S. nominee for the biennial, international Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2010.

Reviews

[Adam Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was an actual dead beetle in our copy, near the climax. Real classy, Mr. Carle.

[Lu's Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

He was okay with this book and well-engaged until the "Click!" recordings near the end of the book. Then it became the best book in the world. I think he played the clicks forty times.
(March 2019, library book)

[Canette Arille · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book for children. It's about the click beetle, which is walking, but suddenly falls on its back and cannot get up. Small click beetle meets another click beetle and asks for help. However, insteed of help him, big click beetle only promises him that in the morning he will teach him how to get back on his feet. In the morning, the big click beetle tells him how to do it, but our main character falls on his back again. Various animals cheer him on instead of helping him. Finally, the click beetle manages to get back on his feet, because he was scared by the man walking in his path. I rate the book positively, but I think that animals should help the small click beetle, instead of cheering him on, and watching his misfortune.

[Bhargavi Balachandran · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story wasn't too great, but the Lo loved the clicking sound. The idea is really clever. Too bad the story is pretty lack-lustre.

[Allie Mangus · Rating 3 out of 5]

exposure therapy core 🫩(5/6) didn’t love this one

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful Eric Carle book. This one has clicking sounds for the beetle at the end. Beautiful story.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very clumsy click beetle falls on his back and can't get up. An elderly click beetle shows him the trick to flip upright and leaves him to it. Various animals pass by, encouraging the stuck beetle but it isn't until a human approaches that the beetle is scared enough to finally flip himself over.

This was a fun book to read to my son due to the sound effects it makes as you turn pages. Mostly, I didn't enjoy the story though as I found it exceedingly inaccurate. First of all, I would never willingly approach a beetle of any kind. Furthermore, whenever I am in the presence of a beetle it does not run away from me. More like it dive bombs me with ferocity.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did you know there are over 500 species of click beetles in the U.S.? I didn't, but this book taught me so. (Okay, let's be real, I didn't even know there was such a thing as a click beetle before I read this.) This will make a great gift for at least one little person in my life. Enjoy rich illustrations, a story inviting audience participation, and even an audible surprise. (2020)

How sweet to read with little ones cozied up and turning pages for me. The last page or so had to be turned several times, of course. Click, click, click! (2021)

[Virginia · Rating 3 out of 5]

My kids love the illustrations and the story is ok. But the part they like the most is the clicking at the end of the book!

[ColumbusReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 3 year old loved this one with the beetle sound effects included. No, not the sound effects from me but from the book.

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yesterday, I found a dead click beetle at work, and one of my employees who is a teacher, mentioned this book and how she read it to her class and how good it was. So I requested it and got it the next day.

But, I can’t say I agree.
I found it a little odd, just the whole setup of the story, and feel that it could have been better.

In the morning the young click beetle goes for a walk, at noon it climbs a flower, climbs rocks in the afternoon, and at night falls off a tree onto its back and can’t flip over. All of a sudden there’s an older click beetle who’s apparently been following the young one all day. Why would it watch the beetle all day? Why wouldn’t it just notice it on its back and still serve the same purpose??

It was really weird that the old one told the beetle he would teach him how to flip the next day, saying he might as well go to sleep. Okayy. Why not teach him then so he’s not lying on his back all night?

The old beetle showed him how, and then all of a sudden there are all these random animals that pop up and the young one tries to flip each time. Every single time it was “Look at me,” said the young click beetle.” “And with a loud click..” He’d flip over his back, then another animal would show up and it would happen again. Repetitive.

Until a boy showed up and scared the beetle being so large, and it did somersaults and finally landed right side up. Of course the old beetle was right there and that was that. It didn’t mention anything about the process of flipping over or anything. I don’t like these illustrations and it was lacking having no explanation how the beetles do this.

[Chloe Hogan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Very Clumsy Click Beetle is about young, energetic click beetle. The click beetle ends up on its back, and a wise click beetle says it will teach the young click beetle how to land on its feet. The young beetle keeps trying but can't seem to get it. Each time a different animal cheers on the beetle and then a human almost steps on the click beetle. This is when the young click beetle clicks and flips through the air landing on its feet for the first time. Some themes that appear in this book are always keep trying and encouragement. I give this book a 4-star rating because of the engaging story and bright pictures. Personally, this book reminds me never to give up and always to keep trying. When a hard time comes, and I feel like giving up, I can think of the click beetle and its will to keep going. I recommend this book because of books reassures the audience of home and the importance of encouraging each other. It has a great lesson of being positive for others.

[Maddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book, a click beetle gets stuck on his back and tries to click and flip over, following the advice of an old, wise click beetle. He tries many times in front of a different animal each time, and fails every time until a human comes and he flips beautifully and lands on his feet.

Eric Carle's use of simple language and repetition in this book makes it very suitable for early readers. His colorful collage style art is very engaging. This in combination with the inclusion of animals and facts about them (why a click beetle clicks) serves to bridge the gap between home and school, which Carle cites as a scary transition for a child. It includes family themes (i.e., the relationship between the young, clumsy click beetle and the fatherly wise, old click beetle) as well as anthropomorphism to help the reader relate to the characters in the book.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Literally -- and figuratively -- what do you do when you've fallen down and find it hard to get up again?

Such is the plight of the "Very Clumsy Click Beetle." Personally, I'd call him uncoordinated rather than clumsy. But then, this is supposed to be a book for very little children; and uncoordinated is a pretty long word.

But the point is, might that beetle not be all that uncoordinated, or clumsy? Could he playing his own kind of a game?

FIVE STARS for this fascinating book, fine for toddlers, suitable for thoughtful adults as well.

[bookishlimitless · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eric Carle does it again with The Very Clumsy Click Beetle, a charming and beautifully illustrated story about perseverance. The book follows a little beetle struggling to learn how to flip itself over, failing over and over again but never giving up. With encouragement from an older, wiser beetle, it finally succeeds—and the interactive “click” at the end is a delightful surprise!

Carle’s signature collage-style art is as engaging as ever, bursting with color and texture. The message of resilience is simple but impactful, making it perfect for little ones learning to overcome their own small challenges. While it doesn’t quite match the emotional depth of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, it’s still a fun and inspiring read.

My ratings for the book is 4 out of 5 for vibrant illustrations, simple storytelling and encouraging impact.

[Nicholas Mennel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Modern Fantasy
K-3rd
Eric Carle brings to life the most mundane and even despised creature in this book: the beetle. This creative approach to personify the beetle and even have the audience sympathize with it is a testament to the genius of Eric Carle. This book teaches us the lesson of perseverance, which is a fantastic message for every child to hear.

[Patsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't remember reading this one years ago. I really like it, though! Unfortunately, the copy I read from the library doesn't do the clicking sound anymore. But the story is an encouraging one for kids to keep on trying when they are learning how to do something new. Great illustrations as usual, too!

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a lot of children in my life, despite not having kids myself yet or perhaps ever. So I’ve been reading kids books for presents and also thinking about writing my own. This book is a lovely story and has a lesson of empathy for the micro world as well as empathy for oneself. There is also a message of perseverance and never giving up which are strong principles in the growing up process.

[Miana Beatrice · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Very Clumsy Click Beetle is a charming story about a little beetle who struggles to flip back onto his feet. With vibrant illustrations and a heartwarming narrative, slope game teaches children about perseverance and self-acceptance. This delightful book is perfect for young readers, encouraging them to embrace their uniqueness. Highly recommended!

[Cara Byrne · Rating 5 out of 5]

"One fine morning a young click beetle decided to go for a walk. At noon it climbed up and down a flower. In the afternoon it rummaged through a pile of pebbles. In the evening it crawled among the tall blades of grass."

[Tina Sorensen · Rating 3 out of 5]

We got this book from the library and I didn't even know it made clicking sounds until I read the comments here. The book we read did not make sounds. Maybe that is a good thing because I get very annoyed by books that make sounds. That said, my little one thought it was a fun book.

[Sean Harding · Rating 4 out of 5]

Books about click beetles are a rare breed but here we are with Eric Carle and an other "very' book and about the old click beetle.
Good fun here as the click beetle learns the art of leasing and landing.
Eric Carle #38/89

[Sarah Niemi]

This book follows the story of a beetle learning how to click and flip in the air. It is a fun story with repetition, which can be once for younger readers. I also really enjoyed the art style of the book.

[Kaylee Harkness · Rating 5 out of 5]

The clumsy beetle is stuck! He needs to learn how to flip himself back over with a CLICK!

My seven year olds loved this story ! It’s easy to follow along with and find the pattern! They quickly recognized words like CLICK ! And shouted them out !

One of the cutest Carle tales!

[Nahuatl P Vargas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me gustó mucho, como todos los libros de este autor, me tocó la versión del libro que tiene sonido al final, esto siempre es muy agradable para cuando se lo leo a los niños de preescolar.
Recomiendo.

[Bella Floro · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Very Clumsy Click Beetle by Eric Carle is a charming story about perseverance and learning from mistakes. With its vibrant illustrations and simple message, it teaches children the importance of practice, patience, and never giving up.

[Erik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple story with lots of repetition and patterned phrasing for early readers. Carle's big collage pictures and the beetle clicks make this fun for young readers

[Cara · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young click beetle learns how to rotate in midair so that he lands on his feet after jumping. It takes some practice, but he gets it eventually.

[Jude · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not sure if this book would have been remarkably better if our click sound was functioning, but I'm skeptical. It's a story of perseverance, I suppose, but not a particularly good one.

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner! I love this story! I even bought the clicking puppet to go along with it for story times!