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BY CAROL MURRAY
PUBLISHED BY HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY
A CHRISTY OTTAVIANO BOOK

“Pray tell us, Mr. Mantis,
Do you pray or simply prey?
Do you scout about for victims
Or fold your hands all day?
”

In addition to the playful rhyming poems, the supplementary text highlights surprising facts about bugs of all kinds―from familiar ants to exotic dragonflies, cringe-worthy ticks and magnificent fireflies. Melissa Sweet’s collage-inspired mixed-media illustrations beautifully render these creatures and compliment the poems’ whimsical tones. This is an enchanting and informative look at a perennial topic of interest for kids―cool bugs!

Find CRICKET IN THE THICKET at local independent bookstores, through IndieBound, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, or in your local library.

Need a signed book? Check in with PRINT: A BOOKSTORE, our local indie book shop. They'll order my book, I’ll go there to sign it, then PRINT will mail it directly to you. It’s fast and easy!

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An NCTE Notable Poetry Book

A Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Award Nominee

A Pennsylvania Keystone to Reading Award Masterlist Selection

A 2018 Kansas Notable Book

“An approachable poetry collection on a genial topic, chock-full of visual delights.
”
— Booklist
“Sweet’s illustrations―with their graceful lines, luminous colors, and sly wit―delight throughout, offering delicious moments.
”
— Publishers Weekly
“A lighthearted treasury. . . the poems are clever and humorous . . .Happy-go-lucky fun with words, collage, and a smattering of facts about bugs.”
— Kirkus
“A friendly package that should draw in even bug-phobic readers, providing a non threatening entree into the insect world.
”
— The Horn Book
“Bouncy little poems skitter across the illustrated pages as Murray celebrates bugs, from walking sticks to dung beetles. Sprightly, simple, and with a nice soupcon of information; a fine choice.”
— School Library Journal
“Sweet’s familiar blend of delicacy and quirky character . . . is perfect for rendering the familiar insects strange yet somehow cozy. . . A tuneful entry in an early insect curriculum.”
— The Bulletin
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