Bug Blonsky and His Very Long List of Don'ts

Follow one rip-roarious day in the life of an antsy (if lovable) boy named Bug, guided by E. S. Redmond’s humor and wit.

If seven-year-old Benjamin (aka Bug) Blonsky were a superhero, he’d be “Bug Boy with the Power to Annoy.” That’s what his big sister says. Mom says he’s wiggly and can’t sit still. Dad says he’s easily distracted. On this day, Bug’s “choices” — drawing pictures of pig roller coasters during math time, making armpit noises when his teacher bends over — have landed him in a heap of trouble, so now he’s writing a list of what not to do: his list of don’ts. Such as: don’t be late for the bus (you’ll have to sit with know-it-all Abner), don’t trade a cookie for a flaxseed muffin (it won't taste like cotton candy), don’t be nice to Peggy Pinkerton (she’ll want to kiss you), and whatever happens, don’t tell Mom! Bug’s list is very long, but will it help him stay out of trouble? Don’t count on it!

“Some humor writers have a rule of thumb: always make the jokes funnier than they need to be... the jokes work, and most of the time, they work twice as well as necessary. --Kirkus Reviews Benjamin "Bug" Blonsky, an impulsive seven-year-old who "spend[s] a lot of time in the quiet chair thinking about my choices," stars in this mischief-stuffed early reader...kids will know that Redmond is on their side. --Publishers Weekly The black and white cartoonish art lends plenty of visual humor: the titles of the books on Bug's teacher's desk include "The Joyless Classroom," and Bug's waste-of-math-time pigs make several appearances. Plentiful illustrations, stealthy repetition, and the appeal of the class clown make this a quick pick for the early reader set. --Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Large font combined with detailed cartoon-style illustrations on every page will keep newer chapter book readers confident and engaged. The full-color artwork capitalizes on and exaggerates the jokes in the text to make them extra silly. Using slapstick humor in both its words and art, this early chapter book will appeal to new readers who enjoy a little trouble and irreverence in their stories. --School Library Journal Bug's antics are believable and will ring true, making this a good choice for fans of Dav Pilkey's Captain Underpants series. --Booklist Online”

Some humor writers have a rule of thumb: always make the jokes funnier than they need to be... the jokes work, and most of the time, they work twice as well as necessary.
—Kirkus Reviews

Benjamin “Bug” Blonsky, an impulsive seven-year-old who “spend[s] a lot of time in the quiet chair thinking about my choices,” stars in this mischief-stuffed early reader...kids will know that Redmond is on their side.
—Publishers Weekly

The black and white cartoonish art lends plenty of visual humor: the titles of the books on Bug’s teacher’s desk include “The Joyless Classroom,” and Bug’s waste-of-math-time pigs make several appearances. Plentiful illustrations, stealthy repetition, and the appeal of the class clown make this a quick pick for the early reader set.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Large font combined with detailed cartoon-style illustrations on every page will keep newer chapter book readers confident and engaged. The full-color artwork capitalizes on and exaggerates the jokes in the text to make them extra silly. Using slapstick humor in both its words and art, this early chapter book will appeal to new readers who enjoy a little trouble and irreverence in their stories.
—School Library Journal

Bug’s antics are believable and will ring true, making this a good choice for fans of Dav Pilkey’s Captain Underpants series.
—Booklist Online

E. S. Redmond is the author-illustrator of Felicity Floo Visits the Zoo, a Wanda Gág Read Aloud Book Award winner, and The Unruly Queen. She lives in Massachusetts with her family.

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