I found an online booklist with "Must-Read" picture books while doing a google search. I can't seem to get back to that website, but this is one of the books listed as one that everyone should know. The back cover of this book says "This is a Junior Library Guild selection, chosen as an outstanding book for boys and girls". Hmm, ok then!
I was excited to read Buz, by Richard Egielski and it ended up in my bookbag when I went babysitting one night last week. The boy I babysit for is 3 years old (almost 4) and loves books. Now Max usually chooses books about trucks and tractors and dinosaurs, meaning he was not terribly interested in Buz. I was determined though...I had to read this book and I figured he was better off reading it with me than wandering around upstairs. Not that I would have let him, but I just wanted to sit and read! So I opened the book and immediately said "oh my gosh! you won't believe this!" Of course Max couldn't help himself so he ran over yelling "what?? what??"...that's when I told him that this story takes place inside someone's body! Needless to say, Max was hooked.
I watched Max's face closely as we read the story the first time - it was one of disbelief. He didn't have questions or comments, he just stared with his jaw falling to the floor, amazed at this bug who had gotten himself stuck (accidently, of course) inside a boy's body! When the story was finished, he wouldn't move. I think we ended up reading this story twice more in that sitting, and then a couple times before bed. It was such a great experience to actually read this picture book with a child. Don't get me wrong, I love reading them by myself, but Max's enjoyment more than doubled my own. I came away from this book with a new appreciation for the power of pictures and a simple story.
Buz, a strange mosquito/dragonfly combination of which I'm not aware, was a very expressive insect. Though he only ever said one thing, "Buzzz?", his face conveyed all the emotion necessary to carry the story to the next page. The pictures themselves are large. There isn't always a lot of activity on the page, but the space is filled in bold, solid colors that definitely captured a 3-year-olds attention. The illustrations weren't flooded with details and we didn't have to spend forever on each page because we were afraid of missing something. On the other hand, we did indeed keep coming back for the pure joy of a fun/silly story. This is most certainly a book for a younger audience and even introduces the concept of word play. Eventually the boy goes to the doctor, who says "you caught a bug alright. I'm going to give you some pills. They'll get rid of that bug." Ha! We don't literally catch bugs! and we certainly don't send pills marching in after them acting like the police! Oh Buz, what a mess you've gotten yourself into. Unfortunately for Buz, what goes around comes around.
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