Maya the bee

Book 80 - Little Miss Hug #100daysofbooks (verdict: a little weird)

Day 80. To try and even up the gender balance a little, today we read Little Miss Hug. While I was very familiar with the Mr Men books growing up, the Little Misses came along a bit later and I don't really know them. Now, as an adult, I'm bothered by a few things. Firstly, that males get to be Men but females are Little Misses. I'm not sure why female characters are diminutive. But that's an aside. Little Miss Hug is a little bit odd, in the same way that Hugless Douglas was - when you think about it, it's a book about undesired physical contact being forced on someone else, under protest, who then discovers that they wanted it all along. [Basically, LMH hugs Mr Grumpy, who rejects her actions, then confused, she does it again, after which he's disarmed and blushes]. Reading too much into it? Perhaps, yes. But it just feels ... weird.

Incidentally, Master A's Dad and I had a little bit of an ironic laugh looking at some of the Little Miss titles, like Little Miss Bossy that in light of recent discussion about words with negative connotations used to put down girls (but not boys), could perhaps be re-titled Little Miss Assertive.

Master A's verdict: Enjoyed it, as I'm sure he's not bothered by my overthinking.

Details: 

  • Title: Little Miss Hug
  • Author/Illustrator: Roger Hargreaves
  • Source: In home library
  • Publisher: Penguin

What's on tomorrow? Another library pick.

 WHAT'S THIS #100DAYSOFBOOKS?T

Book 79 - The Very Hungry Caterpillar #100daysofbooks (verdict: classic)

Day 79 and the story that perhaps everyone knows, The Very Hungry Caterpillar. I've got nothing against this book. It has a predictable progression and ending, but it's such a classic, woven into my childhood history that I can't possibly see it objectively. But, as Master A's dad asked, why is it so popular? Someone told me that schools use it to teach days of the week and counting, which I can see. It has an appealing simplicity. And it seems to have it's own line of merchandising these days, which makes me think that if you're around long enough, people will do things like that. But I don't think I would reach for it as a go-to story myself. I don't think I actually particularly like the artwork, though there's something nostalgic about it.

Master A's verdict: Seemed interested in the tiny pages.

Details: 

  • Title: The Very Hungry Caterpillar
  • Author/Illustrator: Eric Carle
  • Source: In home library
  • Publisher: Puffin

What's on tomorrow? Another library pick.

 WHAT'S THIS #100DAYSOFBOOKS?T

Book 78 - Trucks #100daysofbooks (verdict: simple and curious)

Day 78. Owing to a combination of rain, last night's class and ensuing upset, I'm late with yesterday's post. It was the aptly named Trucks where (for reasons unknown) cats drive all manner of trucks that are thusly described. I find it fascinating how many kids books there are about trucks. I asked Master A's dad what it is about trucks - he thinks because they're big and noisy and less accessible than cars. Despite those qualifications, this book contains no haul trucks or other mining equipment (despite some dodgy entries - it claims camper vans and delivery vans are also trucks) which I think is an oversight, and betrays its overseas origin. Other than that, there's not much to say - it's a simple story, made more curious by the pictures.

Master A's verdict: As per visual evidence, chewed Sophie for the entire trucky experience.

Details: 

  • Title: Trucks
  • Author/Illustrator: Anne Rockwell
  • Source: Borrowed from the local library
  • Publisher: Bloomsbury

What's on tomorrow? The very hungry caterpillar.

 WHAT'S THIS #100DAYSOFBOOKS?

Book 77 - Willibee the Bumblebee #100daysofbooks (verdict: nice)

Day 77. I don't know how many people remember Maya the bee (the animated series is what I saw as a kid) but I recall being quite moved by it, and I immediately thought of it when I spotted Willibee the Bumblebee at the library. Willibee is about a bee who ends up bare-bummed when his jumper unravels, and is helped out by some other friendly insects (though the spider did still give me the creeps, I have to be honest). The story is nice. Some of the rhymes are a little bit laboured, but you get that. In contrast to Maya, I note another story with a male main character. I'm going to have some thoughts about this when we finish the series.

Master A's verdict: Listened to the story, but didn't really want to look at the pictures.

Details: 

willbee-the-bumblebee-with-cd

  • Title: Willibee the Bumblebee
  • Author/Illustrator: Craig Smith, Maureen Thomson / Katz Cowley
  • Source: Borrowed from the local library
  • Publisher: Scholastic

What's on tomorrow? Another library pick.

 WHAT'S THIS #100DAYSOFBOOKS?