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Bug in a Vacuum
From the creator of the bestselling Scaredy Squirrel series comes a clever, hilarious new picture book everyone will be buzzing about!
A bug flies through an open door into a house, through a bathroom, across a kitchen and bedroom and into a living room ... where its entire life changes with the switch of a button. Sucked into the void of a vacuum bag, this one little bug moves through denial, bargaining, anger, despair and eventually acceptance -- the five stages of grief -- as it comes to terms with its fate. Will there be a light at the end of the tunnel? Will there be dust bunnies in the void? A funny, suspenseful and poignant look at the travails of a bug trapped in a vacuum.
A bug flies through an open door into a house, through a bathroom, across a kitchen and bedroom and into a living room ... where its entire life changes with the switch of a button. Sucked into the void of a vacuum bag, this one little bug moves through denial, bargaining, anger, despair and eventually acceptance -- the five stages of grief -- as it comes to terms with its fate. Will there be a light at the end of the tunnel? Will there be dust bunnies in the void? A funny, suspenseful and poignant look at the travails of a bug trapped in a vacuum.
18 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2015
3 people are currently reading
736 people want to read
About the author
Mélanie Watt
52 books297 followersIt was in a design class taught by Michèle Lemieux at the University of Quebec in Montreal that author and illustrator Mélanie Watt created her first picture book, Leon the Chameleon, which was later published by Kids Can Press. Watt went on to create several more books, including the Learning with Animals collection and Augustine, which was named an ALA Notable Children's Book. Watt has also illustrated Where Does a Tiger-Heron Spend the Night? and Bearcub and Mama, which won the 2006 IRA Teachers' Choices Project.
Mélanie's best known book Scaredy Squirrel, has won many awards including the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Award for Children's Picture Book and the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award. The release of Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend, was met with enthusiastic reviews and incredible sales, confirming the arrival of kid lit's newest superstar.
Chester,Chester's Back! and Chester's Masterpiece are about a megalomaniac cat who is every bit the antithesis to Scaredy. Chester has already become a bestseller and shows the breadth and creativity of Mélanie Watt.
Scaredy returns to take a few more tentative steps out of his comfort zone in Scaredy Squirrel at the Beach and Scaredy Squirrel at Night. Mélanie has often noted how the Scaredy Squirrel books helped her work out her own insecurities and fears, as the success of these titles has required her to venture out into the unknown, and like Scaredy she has found the experience truly uplifting.
Mélanie currently resides near Montreal, Quebec.
~From http://www.kidscanpress.com/creators/...
Mélanie's best known book Scaredy Squirrel, has won many awards including the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Award for Children's Picture Book and the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award. The release of Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend, was met with enthusiastic reviews and incredible sales, confirming the arrival of kid lit's newest superstar.
Chester,Chester's Back! and Chester's Masterpiece are about a megalomaniac cat who is every bit the antithesis to Scaredy. Chester has already become a bestseller and shows the breadth and creativity of Mélanie Watt.
Scaredy returns to take a few more tentative steps out of his comfort zone in Scaredy Squirrel at the Beach and Scaredy Squirrel at Night. Mélanie has often noted how the Scaredy Squirrel books helped her work out her own insecurities and fears, as the success of these titles has required her to venture out into the unknown, and like Scaredy she has found the experience truly uplifting.
Mélanie currently resides near Montreal, Quebec.
~From http://www.kidscanpress.com/creators/...
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 334 reviews
May 28, 2015
Melanie Watt has always done a fantastic job combining a great children's story with an underlying life lessons.
In the Scaredy Squirrel series, she introduces the struggle and rewards of going outside your comfort zone. Her other books tackle feelings of frustration while waiting or being different all the while, wrapping it in the veneer of a funny picture book.
This book has fantastic, humorous pictures to go with the story of a fly that inadvertently gets sucked into a vacuum. In silly ways, the fly goes through the five stages of grief (as described by famed and beloved psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross . Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance.
Parents can keep it simple for the little ones, or engage older children in discussion about the feelings we often go through when something bad happens to us. There are also a lot of "phrases" that can be taught to children. "On top of the world", "wouldn't hurt a fly", etc.
Each "stage" or "feeling" as I translated to my young kiddos, was prefaced by a funny product that was named the same as the stage:
I applaud the author for successfully marrying a fun children's picture books with disguised opportunity to teach about some of life's deeper lessons.
Thank you Random House of Canada Limited/Tundra Books and Netgalley for a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
In the Scaredy Squirrel series, she introduces the struggle and rewards of going outside your comfort zone. Her other books tackle feelings of frustration while waiting or being different all the while, wrapping it in the veneer of a funny picture book.
This book has fantastic, humorous pictures to go with the story of a fly that inadvertently gets sucked into a vacuum. In silly ways, the fly goes through the five stages of grief (as described by famed and beloved psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross . Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance.
Parents can keep it simple for the little ones, or engage older children in discussion about the feelings we often go through when something bad happens to us. There are also a lot of "phrases" that can be taught to children. "On top of the world", "wouldn't hurt a fly", etc.
Each "stage" or "feeling" as I translated to my young kiddos, was prefaced by a funny product that was named the same as the stage:
I applaud the author for successfully marrying a fun children's picture books with disguised opportunity to teach about some of life's deeper lessons.
Thank you Random House of Canada Limited/Tundra Books and Netgalley for a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 16, 2016
A fly gets sucked into a vacuum and goes through the five stages of grief.
Hmmm. I'm torn on this one. It is clever and well-illustrated. The author is detail-oriented (expect to see the items on the floor appear in the vacuum canister), which makes it a bit of a seek and find for children. The action inside the vacuum and the interesting ways the bug decorates and rearranges items (a comb for a prison) is equally attractive. The dog is suffering the same sudden loss as the bug, so there's that cute little parallel piece, too. But even if there is a need for young children to understand the five stages of grief, without that part directly spelled out in advance, my children had no idea what was going on here and I suspect most wouldn't.
Hmmm. I'm torn on this one. It is clever and well-illustrated. The author is detail-oriented (expect to see the items on the floor appear in the vacuum canister), which makes it a bit of a seek and find for children. The action inside the vacuum and the interesting ways the bug decorates and rearranges items (a comb for a prison) is equally attractive. The dog is suffering the same sudden loss as the bug, so there's that cute little parallel piece, too. But even if there is a need for young children to understand the five stages of grief, without that part directly spelled out in advance, my children had no idea what was going on here and I suspect most wouldn't.
July 1, 2015
The stages of grief explained comically using a bug stuck in a vacuum. Genius. Absolute genius. This would make a great read aloud for older kids. Perceptive readers will notice the dog experiencing loss only slightly less dramatically than the bug.
January 1, 2024
Loved this treasure of a book and so did grand babies 👶. What seems to be a common house fly finds himself imprisoned in the tank of a vacuum and has to travel through the stages of acceptance as he reckons with the dilemma.
August 26, 2019
A fly gets sucked into a vacuum cleaner and goes through the five stages of grief, eventually coming to terms with his new existence inside the machine.
December 14, 2016
Long ago, I had a toddler who wanted a book on vacuum cleaners, and we had none.
But I wouldn't give him this one.
I am,in fact, trying to puzzle out who the f*ck is going to use this book.
The five stages of grieving, turned into, effectively, a parable about a bug caught in a vacuum?
Maybe you've got a kid who can use this, and it will work for them. Perhaps it will spark a discussion with an adult. Perhaps.
But this is a frickin' picture book by Melanie Watts, fated to be shelved next to her beloved "Chester" and "Scaredy Squirrel" series. And up until the "5 stages" began, this was a pretty good picture book.
But parents attracted by the title (My 2 year old loves machines--hooray--a vacuum book!), and enjoying the first 5-10 pages are not going to be prepared for the rest of this.
Feh.
P.S. I hated this so much that I gifted it to another branch of the library which hadn't bought it. :D
But I wouldn't give him this one.
I am,in fact, trying to puzzle out who the f*ck is going to use this book.
The five stages of grieving, turned into, effectively, a parable about a bug caught in a vacuum?
Maybe you've got a kid who can use this, and it will work for them. Perhaps it will spark a discussion with an adult. Perhaps.
But this is a frickin' picture book by Melanie Watts, fated to be shelved next to her beloved "Chester" and "Scaredy Squirrel" series. And up until the "5 stages" began, this was a pretty good picture book.
But parents attracted by the title (My 2 year old loves machines--hooray--a vacuum book!), and enjoying the first 5-10 pages are not going to be prepared for the rest of this.
Feh.
P.S. I hated this so much that I gifted it to another branch of the library which hadn't bought it. :D
December 8, 2015
I wasn't sure what to expect when I opened the book to read it and was surprised it was about the five stages of grief. The artwork was beautiful and soft, there was a lot going on to keep little minds busy and entertained and the plot (and subplot with the dog that paralleled the fly's soliloquy, so smart!) was clear and funny. I'm not sure how much a child will catch, but it's fun enough that they won't be bored and will pick more up each time they read it. A good book to spark conversation between parent and young one. 4.5 stars, rounded up because I will definitely be suggesting it in the store.
April 8, 2016
Grade 3 students liked this as a read aloud. It has five chapters with one sentence per page. Students didn't understand the stages of grief, but they thought the illustrations were funny and the bug's adventures fun - especially the dog's toy stuck in the vacuum. The dog and the bug are going through grief; however the dog's grief is wordless. A clever multi-layered book with illustrations and font that represent the 60's when the Kubler-Ross model for grief was first introduced.
January 25, 2022
Possibly more geared toward adults than kids, BUG IN A VACUUM is nonetheless a wildly original, creative, and thought-provoking meditation on the five stages of grief. I loved the retro-50s style of the illustrations and setting.
October 23, 2015
Absolutely brilliant. The art work is so expressive and I simply thought this is a great way to help a younger person understand the stages of grief they might be experiencing. The attention to detail is outstanding (down to the worn chord on the vacuum).
I loved it and this is definitely one I need to add to my personal collection.
I loved it and this is definitely one I need to add to my personal collection.
December 17, 2015
I love this book! The illustrations are amazing! I loved the detail and the 1960's era feel of them. Simply put, it's about a fly who gets sucked into a vacuum cleaner and what happens next. However, the deeper context is an exploration of the emotions we experience as we go through life-changing events, particularly loss.
July 16, 2024
Superbe conte pour introduire les étapes du deuil aux enfants de façon humoristique. J'adore !
March 18, 2017
This is a wonderful picture detailing the five stages of grief. It's a bout a bug who gets sucked up into a vacuum and the way he copes with his situation. Meanwhile outside the vacuum the dog of the house is dealing with similar emotions because his favorite toy has also been sucked up by the vacuum. This is an amazing book teaching children about the feelings that will arise when dealing with grief in a simple and comprehensive way. It also has an ending that isn't totally crushing and is hopeful.
The artwork is bold and creative taking up the whole page. The character's emotions are easily recognizable on their faces.
I really enjoyed this book and I think it's great for kids.
The artwork is bold and creative taking up the whole page. The character's emotions are easily recognizable on their faces.
I really enjoyed this book and I think it's great for kids.
July 29, 2016
Another brilliant picture book by Melanie Watt. I love the way she frames a story about a bug in a vacuum cleaner, with the grieving process. And as usual, the illustrations are hilarious [the fly grasping the teeth of a comb like bars on a prison, was particularly clever].
Sidebar: Based on her stories, I would wager that Watt is a shy and anxious introvert. Firstly, all the exquisitely funny visual details don't translate well into boisterous public readings. But they do provide rich rewards for 1-on-1 storytime, where you and your child can pore over the illustrations. The stories also strike me as very introverted, since her books are often about tiny characters trying to cope with an overwhelming external environment [Leon the Chameleon, Scaredy Squirrel, the titular Bug].
This is definitely a must-read!
Sidebar: Based on her stories, I would wager that Watt is a shy and anxious introvert. Firstly, all the exquisitely funny visual details don't translate well into boisterous public readings. But they do provide rich rewards for 1-on-1 storytime, where you and your child can pore over the illustrations. The stories also strike me as very introverted, since her books are often about tiny characters trying to cope with an overwhelming external environment [Leon the Chameleon, Scaredy Squirrel, the titular Bug].
This is definitely a must-read!
Read
May 22, 2018The kids' impression of this book is that it is a "sad" book - despite the hopeful ending.
It is a book discussing the 5 stages of grief, which makes this book somewhat better suited for adults and teenagers who are studying psychology rather than elementary students and preschoolers.
The illustrations are very well done.
If you are discussing grief and loss with little ones, you could look at this book to discuss different emotions people may feel. Page-wise, this is a longer book than most picture books.
It is a book discussing the 5 stages of grief, which makes this book somewhat better suited for adults and teenagers who are studying psychology rather than elementary students and preschoolers.
The illustrations are very well done.
If you are discussing grief and loss with little ones, you could look at this book to discuss different emotions people may feel. Page-wise, this is a longer book than most picture books.
October 3, 2014
Муха бива всмукана от прахосмукачка и минава през петте стадия на отричане, пазарене, гняв, отчаяние, приемане. Класическа криза! :)
June 4, 2017
Adorable illustrations. Loved this picture book that explores the 5 stages of grief through the eyes of a bug who gets sucked up by a vacuum.
August 25, 2015
LOVE the length and format of this picture book. Very, very clever!
October 28, 2015
Wonderful picture book about the five stages of grief
June 1, 2018
A dachshund sees a fly enter the house so he picks up his toy dog and proceeds to follow the fly around each room. When the fly finally lights on the globe the dog puts down his toy. The fly and toy then manage to get sucked into the vacuum. Here the fly begins to experience the five stages of grief: denial, bargaining, anger, despair, and finally acceptance. Denial: “Doesn’t get much cozier than this . . . Can’t wait to tell my friends about this place!” There is an illustration of the dog on his back trying to look into the vacuum attachment and find his toy dog.
The next stage is bargaining. “Dear Vacuum, If you set me free, I promise to avoid my favorite hangouts: Windowsills, Picnics, Porta-potties”
Each stage is illustrated with a product. Despair is a book with that title. The subtitle is “An Unfair Tale with an Unhappy Ending.” Then at the bottom of the book cover, “Based on a truly SAD story.”
Cons: None
Pros: Though this book has more than double the pages of a typical picture book, there are very few words. The illustrations are incredibly detailed and fun, and the five stages make this educational as well. For those who might be worried a bit about the ending, don’t! Everything works out just fine. I highly recommend this book though I think it's better suited for older children. . . and of course adults! There are a few puns that kids could miss and I have to say it again, the illustrations have so many details that this book will need to be read multiple times to see everything.
Full Review: http://www.picturebooksleuth.com/2018...
August 20, 2019
This is such a simple book yet a great way to teach about loss and stages of grief. I think the best part is the story in art which tells the true loss that will speak to most students. There is an interesting aspect to using a fly as a non-cuddly main character to avoid the fresh hurt when using this in direct connection to teaching.
April 12, 2024
I really enjoyed this - the illustrations, the dog and bug both going through the stages of grief, and the tongue-in-cheek packaging. That said, I don't think that kids would understand everything that is going on, particularly the 5 stages of grief.
November 21, 2018
The stages of grief in a children's book. Simple, relatable, beautiful illustrations, touching. A big concept made approachable and understandable.
November 22, 2019
This is an entertaining and informative book about the stages of grief that depict two characters experiencing the emotions in different ways.
February 5, 2020
A delightfully poignant story about working through the stages of grief in a digestible way for young children.
February 26, 2021
Quel bel album pour discuter des étapes d’un deuil.
November 6, 2015
When I first read that popular Canadian author/illustrator Watt would be releasing a picture book titled Bug in a Vacuum, I must admit that I was hooked by the title alone. Would it- could it- really be about a bug in a vacuum? What would be the core of the story? To my genuine surprise and delight, Watt has written and illustrated a children's story based upon the five stages of grief.
We're introduced to lively Bug, who, by all appearances, is having a lovely day. Bug has escaped the reach of a dog named Napoleon and is zigzagging through a house. But then, at the top of the world (resting on a globe), Bug gets sucked into a vacuum. What a cruel twist of fate!
What then follows is the reader accompanying Bug as he works his way through denial, bargaining, anger, despair and acceptance. Lest you wonder whether Bug can convey and express these intense stages, do not fret. Watt, I think, does a rather brilliant job of writing and illustrating the five distinct and fierce emotions through Bug's vantage point, while providing wit and comic relief . Additionally, running parallel to Bug's story is Napoleon going through the same five stages- albeit wordlessly- as he loses his favourite toy to the vacuum. I quite enjoyed this secondary story as it not only adds another layer of humour and visual interest but also a varying finale.
A thoughtful story, a unique story; a story that offers things to think about with each reading. I think both adults and children alike will find much to love, ponder and see in each reading (the level of detail in the illustrations is pretty incredible). As far as I can recall, there is definitely not a plethora of current picture books about the Kubler-Ross stages of grief, or grief in general, so Melanie Watt's offering is extremely welcome. Overall, this picture book is wonderfully accomplished and one that I would definitely recommend to readers young and old.
I received this book as a digital galley courtesy of Tundra Books/Random House of Canada Limited via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
July 9, 2016
Unfortunately, dealing with the stages of grief has been a part of our family's recent narrative. After a beloved uncle suffered from a debilitating stroke (including loss of significant brain function), my husband and I have been struggling to process our own grief. However, I soon realized that my children were dealing with grief as well-both in very different ways. So I have been searching for books that deal with grief as an entry point for talking with my children; Melanie Watt's Bug in a Vacuum was one of those books. Watts, already a recognized and loved author in our house, shares the five stages of grief (the Kubler-Ross model) in the format of a children's book. There are actually two stories within this book-one is about a bug getting stuck in a vacuum cleaner and the other is a dog losing a favorite toy. This book did help me talk a little deeper with both of my children about the process of grief. My younger child seemed to resonate most with the dog's lost toy while my older child understood the bug's plight in the vacuum cleaner. My older child and I were able to talk about the stages of grief and he was able to name what he was feeling and named the stage that he thought his dad was experiencing. I recommend this book for families, including adults who are dealing with grief.
January 9, 2016
When the bug get vacuumed up with the dog’s toy, he goes through five stages of grief. Each stage is it’s own ‘chapter’. The first is denial. At first, the bug thinks the inside of the vacuum is amazing. The second stage is bargaining. He tries to convince whoever vacuumed him up, that he is the wrong bug. He tries to accuse a collection of bug-looking junk of being the wanted bug and he ends up writing the vacuum a letter promising to leave if he is released. Stage three is anger. The bug yells and shouts and attacks the vacuum from the inside. The fourth stage is despair. The bug falls into gloom and depression. The final stage is acceptance. He surrenders to his fate. He tries to appreciate the life he has inside the vacuum. In the meantime, the vacuum is being dragged to the curb. The dog who lost his favorite toy inside the vacuum chases the garbage truck down the street until he sees another dog. The two dogs become friends and the fly and dog’s toy are deposited at the dump where the vacuum pops open on impact and the fly and dog’s toy escape. From there the fly starts his journey all over again while the dog’s toy becomes material for a bird’s nest.
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April 13, 2024
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