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Who Would Win? #15
Ultimate Bug Rumble
Sixteen different bugs battle it out in an epic fight! Who will be the champion?This nonfiction reader compares and contrasts 16 ferocious insects. Readers will learn about each animal's anatomy, behavior, and more. Then compare and contrast the battling animals before finally discovering the winner!This nonfiction series is full of facts, photos, and realistic illustrations, and it includes a range of mammals, sea creatures, insects, and dinosaurs to satisfy all kinds of animal fans.
Library Binding
Published June 1, 2021
3 people are currently reading
145 people want to read
About the author
Jerry Pallotta
243 books113 followersMy full name is Gerard Larry Pallotta but my mom always called me "Jerry". I was born on March 26, 1953 in Boston, Massachusetts. My mom's name is Mary, and she came from a family of ten children. My dad's name is Joe, and he came from a family of five children. My grandparents were immigrants of Italian descent. I have the nicest parents in the world. They have always been unselfish and ready to help me, even today. I have four brothers and two sisters: Joey, David, Andrew, Danny, Cindy and Mickey. I have seventy-two first cousins. When I was growing up, there were...KIDS EVERYWHERE!
My family moved to Medford, Massachusetts when I was young. I went to elementary school at Mt. Trinity Academy, not far from where my publisher is located in Watertown, Massachusetts. I never wrote a book in elementary school, and we never kept journals. In the neighborhood where I grew up, almost every family had seven to nine children. I guess that you could say that there were...KIDS EVERYWHERE!
I went to high school at Boston College High School, a Jesuit all-boys school in downtown Boston. The priests and other teachers were really wonderful. I played football and ran track. I had a great high school experience and I think later it made my studies in college much easier. My sons Neil and Eric graduated from Boston College High School in 2001 and 2003. Neil was named after a teacher I had, Fr. Neil Callahan, S.J. I never wrote a book in high school, and I never wrote for the school newspaper. I was too shy and was afraid of what other kids would think.
After high school I went to Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. I majored in business, a subject that would help me later in life when I decided to publish my first book. At Georgetown, I met my wife, Linda. In college I was an average student and was captain of the Georgetown University Rugby Team. I never wrote for the college newspaper, and I never imaged writing books. A couple of years later, Linda and I got married and I started to work at an insurance company in Boston. During the first six years of being married, we had four kids. It seemed like there were...KIDS EVERYWHERE!
Today, we spend a lot of time with my 31 nieces and nephews...again...KIDS EVERYWHERE!
I learned valuable skills while talking to people, selling insurance and collecting money. When I came home from work, Linda would ask me to "read to the kids!" I loved reading to my kids and I learned to appreciate children's books. The first few books that we bought were alphabet books and counting books. "A" was always for Apple and "Z" was always for Zebra. One day I decided, "Hey, I can do this!" I had an idea. I would write an alphabet book about the Atlantic Ocean. I spent every summer at Peggotty Beach in Scituate, Massachusetts. I have great memories of lobstering, fishing, mossing, clamming and rowing in my dory.
My first book was written in 1985 when I was 32 years old. I came up with the idea, wrote it, designed it, researched it, edited it and my cousin, Frank Mazzola, Jr. illustrated it. I published it myself under the name of Peggotty Beach Books. What fun! It was first printed on July 7, 1986. I'll never forget that day. The book eventually became the #1 best selling book at the New England Aquarium. I was afraid that only my mother would like it. Teachers and kids told me they really liked my book.
While speaking in schools, teachers also told me they were looking for simple non-fiction nature books. It gave me the confidence to write more. My next book, "The Icky Bug Alphabet Book", has sold more than 1 million copies. My third book, "The Bird Alphabet Book" was voted one of the best books of the year by Birders World Magazine. I now have over twenty alphabet books. My goal has always been to write interesting, fact-filled, fun to read, beautifully illustrated color children's books. Thank you to all my illustrators: Ralph Masiello, Frank Mazzola, Jr., Rob Bolster, Edgar Stewart, Leslie
My family moved to Medford, Massachusetts when I was young. I went to elementary school at Mt. Trinity Academy, not far from where my publisher is located in Watertown, Massachusetts. I never wrote a book in elementary school, and we never kept journals. In the neighborhood where I grew up, almost every family had seven to nine children. I guess that you could say that there were...KIDS EVERYWHERE!
I went to high school at Boston College High School, a Jesuit all-boys school in downtown Boston. The priests and other teachers were really wonderful. I played football and ran track. I had a great high school experience and I think later it made my studies in college much easier. My sons Neil and Eric graduated from Boston College High School in 2001 and 2003. Neil was named after a teacher I had, Fr. Neil Callahan, S.J. I never wrote a book in high school, and I never wrote for the school newspaper. I was too shy and was afraid of what other kids would think.
After high school I went to Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. I majored in business, a subject that would help me later in life when I decided to publish my first book. At Georgetown, I met my wife, Linda. In college I was an average student and was captain of the Georgetown University Rugby Team. I never wrote for the college newspaper, and I never imaged writing books. A couple of years later, Linda and I got married and I started to work at an insurance company in Boston. During the first six years of being married, we had four kids. It seemed like there were...KIDS EVERYWHERE!
Today, we spend a lot of time with my 31 nieces and nephews...again...KIDS EVERYWHERE!
I learned valuable skills while talking to people, selling insurance and collecting money. When I came home from work, Linda would ask me to "read to the kids!" I loved reading to my kids and I learned to appreciate children's books. The first few books that we bought were alphabet books and counting books. "A" was always for Apple and "Z" was always for Zebra. One day I decided, "Hey, I can do this!" I had an idea. I would write an alphabet book about the Atlantic Ocean. I spent every summer at Peggotty Beach in Scituate, Massachusetts. I have great memories of lobstering, fishing, mossing, clamming and rowing in my dory.
My first book was written in 1985 when I was 32 years old. I came up with the idea, wrote it, designed it, researched it, edited it and my cousin, Frank Mazzola, Jr. illustrated it. I published it myself under the name of Peggotty Beach Books. What fun! It was first printed on July 7, 1986. I'll never forget that day. The book eventually became the #1 best selling book at the New England Aquarium. I was afraid that only my mother would like it. Teachers and kids told me they really liked my book.
While speaking in schools, teachers also told me they were looking for simple non-fiction nature books. It gave me the confidence to write more. My next book, "The Icky Bug Alphabet Book", has sold more than 1 million copies. My third book, "The Bird Alphabet Book" was voted one of the best books of the year by Birders World Magazine. I now have over twenty alphabet books. My goal has always been to write interesting, fact-filled, fun to read, beautifully illustrated color children's books. Thank you to all my illustrators: Ralph Masiello, Frank Mazzola, Jr., Rob Bolster, Edgar Stewart, Leslie
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
August 16, 2022
I wasn't surprised at the ultimate winner, but I was disappointed that they didn't include a rhinocerus beetle.
July 24, 2025
Great battles. I got 3 of the final 4 right, but not the winner! 🍿
July 14, 2024
ULTIMATE! BUG!! RUMBLE!!!
I now understand why the children at the library are enamored with this series. It's so fun!
Once I found out there was a bug edition, I knew I had to finally check it out. The writing is so funny, and you learn so much about bugs.
5/5 would recommend this to any and everybody!
I now understand why the children at the library are enamored with this series. It's so fun!
Once I found out there was a bug edition, I knew I had to finally check it out. The writing is so funny, and you learn so much about bugs.
5/5 would recommend this to any and everybody!
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February 13, 2025woah my gosh bug :0
November 12, 2018
This is a clever idea for a book series. In each book a series of 16 creatures are pitted against one another, bracket-style, to determine the ultimate champion. Each page gives you a few facts about each animal so that you can decide which one you think will win, and then on the next page it shows you who the winner is. There is a lot of discussion of the bugs killing each other and I wondered if my sometimes-sensitive kid would be disturbed by that, but he doesn't seem to mind. He has three of these books and has been requesting them over and over since bringing them home.
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March 4, 2020The book "Who Would Win? Ultimate Bug Rumble." By Jerry Pallotta. I recommend this book because it is really fun and interesting. I think people who like bugs and fights will like this book a lot.
Not only do they have fights but they stated some facts about each bug. This is why I really like this book.
Not only do they have fights but they stated some facts about each bug. This is why I really like this book.
Read
January 29, 2023All three kids read this book. Logan really likes this series and normally reads any one of these books that he can get his hands on. And as he reads it, he always shouts out, "Guess who will win?" and then gives us two options.
I know the kids really like the pictures and how the information is spread out over the page instead of big bulky paragraphs.
I know the kids really like the pictures and how the information is spread out over the page instead of big bulky paragraphs.
March 10, 2025
Such a fun read with my 6-year-old! Thankfully it wasn't gross - it's a careful line when it comes to bugs - but it is realistically illustrated. The Fun Facts feel a bit overwhelming sometimes with their sheer number. Nonetheless, we learned some fun new things about the bugs we have read about before.
November 28, 2021
The book’s sixteen-creature, bracketed tournament pits bug against bug, with cool facts about their anatomy and fight tactics. It’s a super-engaging book that might just spark kids’ interest in entomology.
March 8, 2022
My son and I love reading these "Who Would Win" series. They are informative, the photos are fun and colorful, and I love that the book is interactive. I ask my son who he thinks will win, it gets him to think logically about facts and brings him to an answer.
May 31, 2019
Very interesting. You never know whats going to happen.
January 5, 2021
I would like to read one of these aloud under a doc camera to see how kids react to the announcer style voice. I was close to guessing the correct winner!
January 27, 2021
it was good
August 14, 2021
My 7 year old nephew loved it.
October 20, 2021
Just wait for the coolest😎rumble of your life!😸😼
December 31, 2021
Loved this. Gave me Monster Bug Wars vibes and I am totally here for it
Read
January 28, 2022Praying Mantis is so awesome!!!
June 2, 2023
Hornet wins!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 16, 2024
I love this book because i was surprised by some of the battles!
October 7, 2025
This easy reader pairs up insects to see which insect would win (or kill) the other. It is sprinkled with lots of facts - perfect for non-fiction fans!
Want to read
February 2, 2026O
December 11, 2020
"No one knows why it happened, but sixteen bugs and insects just showed up for a bracketed contest."
I will tell you why, because it is 2020 and March Madness was canceled like so many other things. We deserve to this.
Some interesting facts:
A centipede has between thirty and three hundred feet. They can't narrow that down a little more?
An assassin bug is sometimes called a kissing bug.
"People must avoid killer bees." We definately know that this year with all the murder hornets.
I will tell you why, because it is 2020 and March Madness was canceled like so many other things. We deserve to this.
Some interesting facts:
A centipede has between thirty and three hundred feet. They can't narrow that down a little more?
An assassin bug is sometimes called a kissing bug.
"People must avoid killer bees." We definately know that this year with all the murder hornets.
September 19, 2023
My early reader loves this series of bugs and animals. The books have many interesting facts and pictures. Encourages creative thinking and application of what is presented. What a great book series!
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews