Bug Off!: A Story of Fireflies and Friendship

by Cari Best, Jennifer Plecas (Illustrator)

Lightning-bug-loving Maude wants to be a member of the Bug-of-the-Month Club in her new neighborhood, and decides that her entrance speech will be about fireflies. She reads, she researches, she prepares, and she delivers a speech that all the club members love--except for hard-to-please Louise. Louise won't even let Maude in the club! So Maude vows to really let Louise have it for being so rude. But when she does, it's not in the way anyone expects. Bug Off! is a sparkly story about friendship, kindness, and inclusion--packed with info about fireflies, too!

Genres: Picture Books, Nature, Friendship, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

Published June 25, 2019

About the author

Cari Best has written many award-winning picture books, including Sally Jean, the Bicycle Queen, a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, and My Three Best Friends and Me, described by the New York Times as “refreshing” and “exciting.” Her most recent picture book is If I Could Drive, Mama, was described by Publishers Weekly as “a wonderful tribute to an imagination in perpetual motion.” In the Country of Queens is her first novel. Ms. Best lives in Connecticut.

Reviews

[Miss Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

An elementary and up picture book about a local bug club that won't allow a fireflly enthusasts to join. Nice progression of story.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bug Off! A Story of Fireflies and Friendship by Cari Best, illustrated by Jennifer Plecas. PICTURE BOOK. Farrar Straus Giroux, 2019. $18. 9780374380625

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Maude moves to a new town in the country and is eager to learn about the local fireflies and make friends. When she tries to join a local Bug-of-the-Month club, she is put off by the rude response the group's leader gives her well-researched talk about fireflies (they aren't technically bugs!). Instead of firing back, Maude reaches out and finds that kindness helps her make friends. Eventually the neighborhood kids come around--including the leader of newly renamed Insect-of-the-Month club--and real friendships are built.

This is a great book about making friends and responding to unkind people. Its a bit wordy to be a great read-aloud for younger audiences, but the message is a really good one for all ages. Kids who like insects might be especially interested!

Reviewer: TC
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is a 3.5 for me, and while it is certainly true that Louise never apologizes for her rude treatment of Maude, adults could easily point this out or discuss it and make it clear that Louise's behavior is not acceptable. Reading between the lines, I suspect that Louise actually did say she was sorry to Maude at some point. While the two girls may never become close friends, at least they can peacefully coexist, and I applaud Maude for following her passion despite Louise's dismissal. Like many city-dwellers, Maude, a recent transplant to the country, is enchanted by the fireflies flitting around her back yard. Eager to join a club that focuses on bugs, she prepares a speech after doing a lot of research on her topic. While the other club members seem impressed with her presentation, Louise, its founder, is not. Not only does she yawn and try to rush Maude, but after the speech is over, Louise is quick to point out that fireflies are beetles and not bugs. Naturally, Maude is deeply embarrassed, but she still persists in her love for fireflies and is determined to provide a healthy place for them to live. She hosts a firefly viewing party, and several club members and neighbors join her. Eventually, Louise comes to realize that there is plenty of room in her club for someone who loves fireflies. I liked how the author weaves into Maude's speech interesting facts about fireflies as well as how the narrative leads readers to believe that Maude is going to blast Louise. But she doesn't behave that way at all, choosing to invite her to join her own efforts to save those fireflies. I loved the facial expressions on the characters. The book contains additional references and useful websites.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let’s take a vote. How many of us think fireflies are bugs? Well...they are beetles, and beetles ARE insects, and bugs are insects, but fireflies and bugs are two different classes of insects. Confusing? It is to Maude, a newcomer in the neighborhood. She’s trying to make friends, and when she sees a poster advertising the Bug-of-the-Month Club, she thinks it’s the perfect way to meet other children and share her new passion for fireflies. However, it’s not at all confusing to club leader Louise, who rejects Maude’s bid for membership based on the fact that fireflies are NOT bugs!

The text weaves in basic information about bugs and lots of information about fireflies and how to create a firefly-friendly environment. It’s not preachy or dry - just the right balance to inform and entertain. The cartoonish, full color illustrations show mostly night scenes with the contrasting bright yellow fireflies and proportionately large white eyes of the children.

This book could be used to initiate a study of animal kingdom orders and classifications, but probably more useful as a how-to-be-a-friend’ story. Now, could we have a discussion about the terms firefly vs lightening bug?

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall I liked the story about the discussion of moving, new beginnings, I believe young readers will connect with our main character on new fears of not fitting in, etc. What I'm not a fan of is the behavior of another lead character, all the hurtful acts she caused to our main character to feel humiliated and sad. They "magically" become friends but without a proper apology from the mean-spirited character. I think this is a teachable moment for teachers or parents to discuss unacceptable behavior, but some young readers may not understand or LEARN the importance of apologizing and changing the poor behavior.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will Maude make it into the Bug-of-the-Month Club?

Cari Best has created a suspenseful tale for children of all ages.

You see, Louise (the president of the club) has a pedantic, bossy way of treating newcomer Maude.

What Maude does in response is brilliant, persistent and brilliant. She winds up teaching Louise a lesson, and then Louise steps up and mends her ways.

Here's to Save the Fireflies. And also, here's to Save Civility in Our Communities!

FIVE STARS to Cari Best for a lovely story. And FIVE STARS also to illustrator Jennifer Plecas, who brings fireflies to life and also has a knack for depicting deliciously nerdy children.

[Dylan Teut · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book where friendship magically takes place without an apology. I can see where forgiveness (though unspoken happened), but these tales that people don't get along and then magically become friends (especially after one has been particularly cruel and rude) are being published more frequently and it's not how it works for most childhood friendships. This does not model making amends appropriately. Cannot recommend.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting mix of firefly information book and mean girl story. I liked it quite a lot especially the new girl, Louise's initial feeling and reactions. I think I would have added a star if the mean girl, who DOES come around in the end, would have apologized. Maybe this is more realistic but the justice-seeker in me would have preferred Maude to have acknowledged her actions ;-)

Cute illustrations and lots of great information about fireflies and their protection.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story with lots of facts about fireflies.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unapologetic mean girl Louise won't let lightning-bug-loving Maude join the Bug-of-the-Month Club.

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay. I didn't care for the story, but there is a loose message in there about friendship. If one of the characters wasn't so snotty, I think I'd like it more.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book about friendship and what it means to be a good friend. This would be perfect for a little bit older audience...2nd-4th grade. It is a little text dense.

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely about BOTH fireflies and friendship, or at least treating others well.

[Michelle Gray · Rating 3 out of 5]

STEAM Theme: insects vs bugs, fireflies

[Margaret Boling · Rating 2 out of 5]

11/26/2019 ~ A bit too much about fireflies and not enough about characterization.

[Marianne Tabner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is nicely updated about fireflies and a clever way to tie in a friendship.