The Big Bug Dug

by Mary Serfozo, Jeffrey Scherer (Illustrations)

A My First Hello Reader book, this humorous rhyming story, with game cards and activity pages, becomes a quick nature study as it follows a delightful bug in his quest for solitude.

"The big bug dug...and dug...and dug. Down in the dirt, the big bug dug..."
As the big bug digs his way down under -- "to find a quiet place to sleep!" -- readers are treated to a short lesson in nature science. We meet underground insects and snakes, slugs, worms, and more. We also discover such things as roots, rocks, and fossils found at different levels below. The book comes with eight pairs of picture-word game cards that can be punched out and used to reinforce the story in a fun way. In addition, there are six pages of skill-building puzzle activities. Whimsical illustrations by Jeffrey Scherer make this book totally engaging for young readers.

Genres: Childrens

32 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2002

Reviews

[Regina Walker]

Good book for early readers - lots of repetition and a cute story, too.

[Clover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun book full of easy first words to read and lots of repetition as well as fun pictures. A pleasure to read and share with my kids. It’s a favorite in our house.

[Kristen Scelonge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grade/Interest Level: Primary (Kindergarten-1st grade)
Reading Level: Lexile level, 40L
Genre:Modern Fantasy/ Science Fiction

Main Characters: The Bug
Setting: Underground in the dirt
POV: Bug’s point of view

Summary:
The Big Bug Dug story begins with a green bug in search of a cozy and quiet place to sleep where no one or anything can bother him. As he begins to dig into the earth he runs into a snake which he simply ignores and sneaks past en route of his destination. Several other obstacles occur along the way as well and the bug ends up running into gophers, rocks, and moles, all of which inhibit his ability to dig deeper for a quiet resting place. Yet the bug presses on as he grows increasingly more tired on his mission. The rising action in this story leaves one to believe that the bug will simply give up his search of a quiet place to sleep at the climax, but just as this happens he comes to an area in the ground that looks quite cozy and he is finally able to doze off to sleep without any outside noise. The bug is very happy about his sleeping situation at the end of the story.

I would use this book in a classroom of primary grade students in order to help them learn specific elements of a story such as characters, plot, setting, and conflict. I feel this book is simplistic enough in text that as a group the students and I would be able to establish these elements in the story and define these terms so they will be used in their future readings.

[Sharon]

My son and daughter enjoyed this book. My son was able to read about half of the words and had fun learning about some animals that he had never heard of before such as a slug and a mole.

[Horace Mann Family Reading Challenge · Rating 5 out of 5]

The big bug dug and dug and dug. Maya & Abby

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good rhyming book for Level 1 readers. About a bug who dug. I liked it and the kid I read it to, thought it was funny. :)

[Lindsay]

A nice SRP 2013 tie-in.

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is funny at the ending.

[Mason Greer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very intellectually stimulating. As you read this book, Mary Serfozo writes so flawlessly on how this big bud dug that you are completely immersed into the riveting story.