Burt the Beetle Doesn’t Bite! by Ashley Spires ★★★★★ #BookReview #BookBlog

Primary Genre(s): Children’s Fiction, Picture Book
Published: 1 Jun 2021 by Kids Can Press
Page count: 56 (print)
My Format: ebook via NetGalley
Cover: Cute
Pacing: Good
Ending: Fun  
Do I Recommend: Yes
Commission Link (U.S.): Buy Burt the Beetle Doesn’t Bite

My rating: ★★★★★

Synopsis
Meet Burt, a ten-lined june beetle. He’s sure he belongs in the category of bugs with superpower-like abilities. No, he can’t carry 50 times his weight, like ants. No, he’s not able to spray paralyzing venom, like some termites. No, he can’t release a bad smell to repel predators, like stink bugs. What june beetles are known for is chasing porch lights and flailing their legs in the air — does that count? Hmm … Maybe Burt will just have to accept the truth. June beetles don’t have any special abilities. But when some other bugs find themselves in perilous trouble that even their superpowers can’t get them out of, Burt suddenly realizes there is one thing that he can do to save his friends — and it’s something that only a june beetle can do!

My Thoughts
Here are my pros and cons Burt the Beetle Doesn’t Bite:

Pros

1. I am a huge fan of Ashley Spires’ books. I’ve reviewed several of them already and I will read everything she ever publishes.
2. I love that her books are so varied in topic, but they all teach the reader about something, such as friendship, controlling tempers, being creative, overcoming fears, or simply having a positive attitude! Every book she writes has a beautiful lesson wrapped up inside a whimsical and often comical story!
3. This graphic novel style story is full of insect facts and I guarantee you will learn something you didn’t know before!
4. I thought it was hilarious how Burt kept falling on his back and had to ask his friends for help getting right-side-up!
5. I love that the story emphasizes that everyone is special, just in different ways. And being friendly and helpful to others is always a great quality.
6. There are some terms in this book that may be challenging for younger readers, but if parents use this as a learning opportunity, I see this as a positive attribute rather than negative.

Cons

None.

Summary
This would be an adorable book for the budding entomologist in your life, but it is also a great book for any kid who thinks they aren’t special or aren’t as good as someone else.

Honestly, I would almost blindly recommend any book from this author. I simply adore her stories.

This book is written for readings ages 5 to 8 years old and is 56 pages long.

Thank you NetGalley and Kids Can Press for a free eARC of this book, which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.  

If you would like to read this book and form your own opinion, please consider purchasing through this link: Buy Burt the Beetle Doesn’t Bite. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Thanks!

Click here for a description of my rating scale.

(image from Goodreads)

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