The Boll Weevil Ball

by Kelly Murphy

The charming story of a tiny beetle who is able to reach great heights.

Redd scurried to the punch bowl for a cool drink. The cups were bigger than he was, but he was too thirsty to care.

Redd is small, even for a beetle. He's too small to reach the mailbox, too small to fly, too small even to dance at the famous Boll Weevil Ball. But when Redd sets his mind on something, nothing can stop him.

Starring a very small but hugely determined beetle, this charming picture book proves that little people -- or insects -- can do great things.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2002

About the author

Kelly Murphy is an award-winning illustrator and animator working predominantly with traditional and mixed media. Born and raised in southeastern Massachusetts, USA, she studied illustration at the Rhode Island School of Design, her student work receiving distinction from The Society of Illustrators. Since earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1999, Kelly has been actively freelancing across the various fields of editorial illustration, picture books and poster illustration as well as character design for both the film and toy industry.

An accomplished children's book author and illustrator, Kelly's books have been published by worldwide leading publishing houses, her twelfth picture book already due to be available in early 2011.

Kelly's work has been featured in curated shows, gallery exhibitions and international magazines specialized in illustration, notably winning recognition from American Illustration, The Society of Illustrators and 3x3 Magazine.

On the side of these numerous and versatile creative achievements, Kelly has engaged in a lasting involvement with art and has been a member of the illustration faculty at the Montserrat College of Art since 2002, and the Rhode Island School of Design since Spring of 2009.

Kelly is the co-founder and creative director of Shybird™ Studios, which showcases her collaborative work with french illustrator and animator Antoine Revoy.

Reviews

[Jeani · Rating 3 out of 5]

It seems that so many picture books these days are just the main character whining about their situation and then another character comes along to give them something that makes them happy and stop whining at the end (and not, surely, forever because once a whiner, always a whiner). This is one of those tales. Cute, though. Could be used with children as an illustration that life's joys are often found in one's perspective.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

The concept is ok, and the style of the art is charming. But somehow it just doesn't work. The text is too long, and the beetles are not cute. And it just doesn't make sense.

However, I will continue to read other books with Murphy's artwork.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Redd is adorable, and the soft illustrations suit perfectly.

[Zachary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great story, complete with extraordinary cute pictures.

[Helen Martch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love when I get to read this book to my son at story-time before bed. It's such a sweet story and the pictures are beautiful.