Age Range: KS2
Themes: Science, adventure, bugs, bravery and friendship.
Publisher: Chicken House
Published: 2017
Break Down: 326 pages of story plus 'An Entomologists Dictionary'. Broken down into 35 chapters - all relatively short (between around 6 and 16 pages in length, with illustrations interspersed ).
Blurb: Cruel beetle fashionista, Lucretia Cutter, is at large with her yellow ladybird spies - and she has a devious plan. When Darkus, Virginia and Bertolt discover further evidence of her evil, they're determined to stop her.
But the three friend are in trouble. Darkus's dad has forbidden them to investigate any further - and disgusting crooks Humphrey and Pickering are out of prison. Hope rest on Novak, Lucretias's daughter and a Hollywood actress, but the beetle diva is always one scuttle ahead...
My thoughts: Continuing on my reading spree - after finishing Goldfish Boy in 24 hours. This was one I also picked up last Friday (31st March), and the book I moved onto after Goldfish Boy. Started on Monday 3rd April and finished Thursday 6th April (I had a busier few days this week and so less time to actually pick up a book).
This is the sequel to Beetle Boy (which I wrote about March 2016 http://primary-classroom-poetry-book-corner.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/beetle-boy-by-mg-leonard.html). I thoroughly enjoyed the first book and so when I saw this sequel, I thought 'well, I need to find out what happens next'. I'm sure children will be exactly the same and chomping at the bit for the next adventure.
Again like the first book, I love the coloured edge to the pages which are yellow with black spots to represent the yellow lady birds featured in this story (although I have just learnt that this is a special edition released only to Waterstones stores and that once stock is gone that will be it), I think it is a beautiful touch.
The scary scientist lady (Lucretia Cutter), I mentioned in my review of beetle boy, is back, showing more of her flare for fashion and is even more determined than before. But luckily so are the children trying to stop her. They have the support of Uncle Max and a select few around them who are finally starting to listen to what the children have been trying to say. We learn more about Lucretia and her daughter, and begin to piece clues together.
I absolutely love both this book and the first. They show the wonders of beetles and ignite a curiosity to find out more, I find myself with in interest in beetles that wasn't there before. It's great to see a book that will spark children's curiosity to get involved with nature and exploring the world around them. I love the fact that the book talks about how vital beetles and bugs are to the survival of the human race and the scale of the role they play. I found the mention of entomology (eating bugs) and how the human race may one day have to consider this as a more viable food source to feed an ever growing population fascinating, as this is something a friend of mine was recently discussing. The story is gripping and exciting with twists and turns. I will happily be recommending this series to my pupils. I am pleased to see that the story will continue in a third book which will be called 'The Battle of the Beetles', I eagerly await its arrival.
Although I'm sure this book will work well on its on, it does refer back to book 1 'Beetle Boy' and to get the most out of it, it is probably best read after the first. When I use Beetle Boy as a class novel I will certainly be recommending 'Beetle Queen' to pupils to follow on (I try to use my class novels to introduce my pupils to as much variety as I can, so tend to avoid reading sequels and instead recommend them to the children who loved the first book, encouraging them to continue on their literary journey).
Teaching ideas:
- Why not link this to a science topic involving beetles/bugs?
- The children could design their own beetle
- draw and label properties.
- come up with character profiles for their talented beetle.
- Make their bug using sculpture materials/junk modelling etc.egg cartons would make great bodies (abdomen/thorax) and pipe cleaners for legs or antennae.
- Classification - create a diagram to identify real and made up beetles.
- There's also always the good ol top trumps cards to, which could be a good way for children to begin profiling their beetle.
- Story writing - what adventures would they go on with their beetle?
- The children could become Entomologists and investigate bugs; including life cycles, habitats, how they help us to survive (pollinating plants) and the ways in which they have adapted to survive and thrive.
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