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The Bug Cemetery
A reassuring look at the cycles of life.
"When I found a dead ladybug one day, my sister, Wilma, buried it for me. She painted a rock to use as a tombstone."
It doesn't take much to start a bug cemetery-a dead ladybug or inchworm, a pitcher of lemonade, and a few tears for a show of proper respect. But when a beloved pet suddenly dies, funerals are no longer any fun. A bug is one thing, but how do you mourn a special friend?
With warmth and sensitivity, this subtle picture book explores the difficult emotions associated with losing a loved one.
"When I found a dead ladybug one day, my sister, Wilma, buried it for me. She painted a rock to use as a tombstone."
It doesn't take much to start a bug cemetery-a dead ladybug or inchworm, a pitcher of lemonade, and a few tears for a show of proper respect. But when a beloved pet suddenly dies, funerals are no longer any fun. A bug is one thing, but how do you mourn a special friend?
With warmth and sensitivity, this subtle picture book explores the difficult emotions associated with losing a loved one.
- GenresPicture Books
32 pages, Hardcover
First published April 2, 2002
14 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 28, 2019
just FYI, this book has a sensitive part in it because the family cat is buried in the bug cemetery. My son didn't realize that anything other than bugs were being buried in the bug cemetery, but he read along and found that Buster is a cat who passed away and is having a funeral and will be buried in the bug cemetery. He has already encountered the loss of a pet, so although sad he liked the idea of the family and friends planting a garden where the cat was buried. I think it is a good book to read if you have a little one encountering the loss of a family pet but I know there are some sensitive readers out there so if you have a sensitive reader, just take a peek before sharing. My son liked it though and he thought what they did was nice.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 8, 2023
First of all, I think this book was just sweet enough.
The story begins with the death of a bug -- and what a child might do about that.
Later, "Billy's cat, Buster, was accidentally hit by a car. Buster died."
Altogether, children who read this book will gently and safely gain perspective on death... as part of the circle of life.
FIVE STARS and big thanks. Author Frances Hill has send an important message to children, a message sensitively designed and cleanly delivered. While Vera Rosenberry's pictures have managed to do justice to this important message... a tall order.
Yes, big thanks to you both!
The story begins with the death of a bug -- and what a child might do about that.
Later, "Billy's cat, Buster, was accidentally hit by a car. Buster died."
Altogether, children who read this book will gently and safely gain perspective on death... as part of the circle of life.
FIVE STARS and big thanks. Author Frances Hill has send an important message to children, a message sensitively designed and cleanly delivered. While Vera Rosenberry's pictures have managed to do justice to this important message... a tall order.
Yes, big thanks to you both!
December 18, 2018
A group of children learn that the bug funerals they had been holding for fun aren't as amusing when a loved one, a child's cat, actually dies.
This is a very blunt and straightforward look at death, mourning, and the ways we remember those we lose.
However, Buster the cat, who is free to roam, was killed by a car in the book. The book ends with the child getting a new kitten--who is shown running unsupervised through Buster's memory garden. So the cycle begins anew with another cat who is likely to meet his predecessor's fate? Sorry, but I wasn't charmed.
This is a very blunt and straightforward look at death, mourning, and the ways we remember those we lose.
However, Buster the cat, who is free to roam, was killed by a car in the book. The book ends with the child getting a new kitten--who is shown running unsupervised through Buster's memory garden. So the cycle begins anew with another cat who is likely to meet his predecessor's fate? Sorry, but I wasn't charmed.
May 11, 2008
This is a sweet story about two children who create a bug cemetery. They have lots of fun pretending to mourn the dead bugs until their friends cat dies and they realize that funerals aren't fun when they're for someone you love. This is a gentle story that teaches children about loss. It has a happy ending also, so it's not too sad.
July 4, 2011
I liked how the young children were able to be creative about the home going ceremony of the bugs and then their pet and the illustrations are very realistic. This ia a good book to help young readers to understand and deal with the loss of pets and friends. It also helps them to understand that is is ok to be sad but they can remember the happy times and good things about their friend or pet.
April 25, 2012
Children are very tender when a pet is lost to death, even if that "pet" is a bird that falls out or a tree in the yard. In this story, some enterprising children strike up a business for the lost and the grieving.
April 7, 2011
Simply excellent little story for any child dealing with the loss of a pet. The book has a creative idea for helping them cope with their loss.
June 11, 2016
A good book for introducing death, mourning and funerals to children. Nonetheless, I do not think the page depicting the cat and the car that killed it was necessary for the story.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews