Because a Little Bug went Ka-Choo!: Grolier Book Club Edition

by Rosetta Stone, Michael Frith (Illustrator)

see image

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Humor, Kids, Classics, Animals

38 pages, Library Binding

First published September 12, 1975

About the author

A pseudonym of Dr. Suess

Reviews

[Najeefa Nasreen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a cute one, and hilarious too.

[Calista · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this little classic. I pulled this out at our family reunion and began to read it and soon all the kids had gathered around me to listen to the story and laugh at the pictures. It's a comedy of errors. I love the illustrations in beautiful color. I remember this from my childhood. You should give this little bug a chance for one sneeze and a whole lot can happen!

[David Sarkies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr Suess - Teaching children theoretical physics since ...
15 November 2013

An alternate title for this book could quite well be 'Chaos Theory for Kids' or more aptly 'The Butterfly Effect for Kids'. This little book pretty much outlines the idea behind the Butterfly Effect: the theory that if a butterfly flaps its wings in China it causes a hurricane in Miami. Okay, this book is not that extreme, but because a little bug sneezed it created a chain of events which resulted in a boat sinking, a helicopter crashing, a farmer running around the city with a bucket on his head, and a policeman crashing against a rock.

Another way we could look at this book would be 'Cause and Effect for kids' meaning that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction, though the reactions in this book are not necessarily equal, but rather compounding upon compounding until such a time as all hell breaks loose, and this is all because a little bug sneezed. I wonder if fans of this book sit in their science classes and when the teacher asks then to explain the theory of cause and effect whether a cheeky kid will put his hand up and say 'is it because a little bug went ka-choo?'

The other thing that caught my attention was that I discovered that this book was written by Rosetta Stone. What, The Rosetta Stone? I didn't know that the Rosetta Stone was an author, but I wonder if it is actually a pen name. I wonder if Rosetta Stone uses that name because the Rosetta Stone actually taught us how to read Ancient Egyptian and as such the modern Rosetta Stone is not only teaching children to read, but also teaching them to understand the complexities of modern science? There are many questions, and not enough answers – maybe there is a Dr Suess book out there that will help me understand that as well?

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

so cute

[Greg Strandberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun book. It's a short read with lots of action. Also, there are many unexpected twists. For instance, when the police motorcycle sidecar is flying in the air, it looks like it's headed for the city. Lo and behold, on the next page it's smashed through a boat.

The city does come...several pages later. I can't say the wait was long or bad, and the events leading up to it were fun. I will admit the ending to this is rather abrupt, and there's not much in the way of resolution.

Good read nonetheless.

[Sylvester (Taking a break in 2023) · Rating 3 out of 5]

5* art
3* story

Squirt was depressed when he saw how many pages there were to this book. But the pictures were pretty interesting, and when he got bogged down, he still wanted to know what was happening - and it helped him keep on.

[Derelict Space Sheep · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun though inconsistent rhymed verse from Dr Seuss, illustrated in the Seuss style by Michael Frith. The story is a rambunctious demonstration of the butterfly effect, starting with a bug’s sneeze and ending in town-wide mayhem. The bopped turtle is a highlight.

[Bronwyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was pretty cute. It was weird that it rhymes occasionally but not always.

[Mandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great illustration of holding your temper 😊💜

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beginner reader storybook about how one small action influences others.

[Radwa · Rating 3 out of 5]

a cute story about the "butterfly effect" of a little sneeze by a little bug, and all the action that follows. just loved the over-the-top ending of it all.

[Shelby]

Because a Little Bug Went Ka-Choo takes readers on a comical journey about how one little action can create a large ripple effect. This book can be used to teach many important lessons, such as how one person’s actions can have an effect on others around them. This is certainly a lesson relevant to middle school.
I would use this book to talk about not only that lesson, but also about the cause and effect text structure pattern. The book is a great way to introduce students to this pattern, as it starts with one tiny action that spirals into something much bigger. I would have students break up the steps in this book and discuss how each part leads into the next. I would then have them create their own “ripple effect story,” using Because a Little Bug Went Ka-Choo as a mentor text. After this fun introduction, I would introduce non-fiction examples of this same text structure.

[Jessica Mocha]

This novel is a great way to teach cause and effect to students. The book follows the actions that occur that all starts when the little bug sneezes. The events that follow get crazier and crazier as the book progresses and leave the reader on the edge when it ends because the narrator says the events are still happening as far as he knows.
This book is simple, but that allows the teacher to teach a complex concept and take it further with a writing prompt or activity. It is also a great way to lead into a complex book when the teacher wants the students to focus on cause and effect or how one event can change the rest of history.
This can also lead into discussion of why certain things happen, like the Why activity in Gallagher. Students can brainstorm things they want to know the cause of and then from that list pick one. After they have picked a topic they can think of possible reasons why through research.

[Heather Lincoln · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book to a group of elementary school children at a women and children's homeless shelter in Phoenix and they loved it so much they asked me to read it aloud again. This book, although it may be funny, teaches an important lesson. It teaches its readers that even the smallest action can have a big effect on others. One little bug sneezed and it caused a series of unfortunate events. The smallest thing can make a big difference. I think that is a great lesson for any child to learn, and I would recommend this book to any teacher, parent, or guardian who wants to get a good laugh out of their kids while teaching an important lesson.

[Spencer Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this book because it closely resembles a dr. Seuss book by the way it is written and how it is illustrated. I like the illustrations as well and it has a very funny sequence to it. I think this book could be used to help teach sequencing and is a fun way to introduce it. This book is modern fantasy and is in the 1st-5th grade range

[Elisabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really want to love this book, but it's just not that well written. The starting point is so clever, but it's inconsistent after that. Sometimes rhyming, sometimes not. And apparently all mad things kick to resolve anger. There's a good lesson!

[Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book can be used to introduce cause and effect relationships. The book shows that no matter how small the cause is the effect can triple. The book can also help students understand that for every action in the classroom there can also be a consequence.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A favorite as a kid, and to read to my own kids. Cute and fun, while also teaching something about cause and effect.

[Dolly Turcios · Rating 5 out of 5]

Because a little bug sneezed "Ka-choo!" a lot of things happens afterwards. A turtle got hit, a hen got wet, he kicked the bucket and hit farmer Brown, then the police came too fast to rescue him but he tripped and went flying, eventually landing on the boat Mary Lou and Mary Lou started to sink and they were rescued and headed to town and ended up at the circus and its an experience none of them will forget. And all because a little bug went "ka-choo"!!
Theme: there is always a consequence to every action
Personal statement: I think is a good book to show how everything we do has a reaction. "cause/effect". I will recommend this book, especially on a class setting because it can show children how if they do something, they need to know there will be a consequence to their actions, and I think is important they know that during this age.

[Lacy | literary_lacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute book. The sentences were very short and simplistic. It didn’t have he same flare as books written by Dr. Seuss, but it was still good.

The book rhymed, and since the sentences were shorter, it kept my daughter’s attention. She actually sat still for the whole book.

While this was a cute book, there wasn’t any educational or interactive aspect to this book. But it is an easy, fun read.

[Carmabela Wong · Rating 5 out of 5]

The butterfly effect explained to children. Just one "KA-CHOO" causes a whole chain of hilarity, from a splashing turtle to a wet hen, to a flying policeman, a sinking boat, and just about everyone crashing a circus parade! Readers young and old will be entertained by this silly story.

Sunshine and I enjoyed this book very much. Enjoy it with us on our Youtube channel Storytime Sunshine.

Here is a direct link: https://youtu.be/a74KxMFCs-s

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun idea about a little thing causing a big problem, due to anger. Good lesson, but when a book gets a "Cat in the Hat" label, certain expectations come. The illustrations are similar to Seuss, but less other-worldly. The words occasionally rhyme and rhythm, but not consistently. It left me wishing for a little more.

[Villain E · Rating 3 out of 5]

A silly Dr. Seuss-influenced story. A bug sneezes which causes a seed to fall on a worm who kicks a tree which causes a coconut to fall on a turtle. A chicken kicks a bucket, a police officer goes flying. A boat gets wrecked. It basically just keeps going until it runs out of pages. For some reason, it starts rhyming 3/4 of the way through.

[Qamar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great job reading "Because a Little Bug Went Ka-choo!" by Dr. Seuss. This story shows how even small actions can have big consequences. It teaches us to be mindful of what we do, as our actions can affect others in unexpected ways. Remember, even as a young girl, your actions are important and can make a big difference!

Love,
Mom and Dad

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun little book about a very overly done concept about how one little thing (like a ka-choo) can set off a series of unfortunate events. I recently read another book that followed the same scenario. It's a good scenario if it's executed properly, and this one was. It was funny in certain parts. My rating - 3/5

[Rubi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun surprise by Dr. Seuss. It's a a clever tale about cause and effect and consequences. It shows how one little thing can lead to more and more things happening, especially things done in anger. I quite enjoyed this book.

[Maria Morrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book on primary chaos theory in which one small event creates utter disaster with no one truly at fault.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently bought this for my youngest daughter because I have such good memories of this book growing up. She loves it now too :)

[Yokfah S · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son finally covers his mouth when he sneeze and coughs!!!

[Cordellya Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book for beginning readers. The illustrations are interesting and the story keeps young readers turning from one page to the next.