Bartholomew and the Bug

by Neal Layton

Bartholomew leads a quiet life, but he is a kindly sort of bear, so when he meets the fly-bug, who is in a terribly tremendous hurry to find the bright lights, he decides to help him get to the big bright city. A charming and quirky story about an unlikely friendship, this book teaches even the youngest child to "seize the day."

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2004

About the author

Neal Layton is the illustrator of POOP, EXTREME ANIMALS, WHAT's EATING YOU, and JUST THE RIGHT SIZE, all written by Nicola Davies. Neal Layton lives in Portsmouth, England.

Reviews

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bartholomew Bear can see the city lights in the distance. He thinks about visiting, but never quite gets around to it until the day a bug appears and is desperate to get there. Bartholomew carries the bug to the road, where they catch a ride to the city.

The bug stays in the city (and almost certainly dies within a day). Bartholomew goes home and remembers the fun he had in the city.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fly who lives for a single day asks for a bear's help in getting to the big city, where he can spend his 24 hrs. partying in the bright lights. This was a humorous concept, and the fly aspect of it at least was the subject of a commercial several years back.

I wasn't a huge fan of the "wacky" typeface.

[Andrew Stockle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bartholomew is a Grizzle-Bear who befriends a little bug. His goal is to get his little friend to “the big city” so he can party it up like it’s 1995. This story outlines their adventures on the town as they journey from place to place singing, dancing, and riding in limousines. The pictures in this book are interesting, the shapes of the characters are present, but they look as though they have been scribbled on with crayon. The shape of the text often mirrors the buzzing of Bartholomew’s little bug friend and his excitement to go to the town and have the time of his life, at one point the reader is required to turn the book on its side in order to read the words on the page. This book would be good for children ages 4-8. I would use this book to teach all about the crane fly (which is the type of bug from the book who only lives for about a day).

[Library Quine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A longer picture book with an attractive quirkiness. Bartholomew the bear befriends a bug who needs to find lights. The pair travel to the big city in the valley to find light and in doing so learn more about the when and where and how of city lights and they also get to party! This will be a fun read aloud.

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book