There's a Bug in My Blossom

There's a Bug in My Blossom (2014) is a children's book by American author J. C. Donaho. Accompanied by Donaho's full-color photographs, the book blends fiction and nonfiction, telling the story of Freddy the Squirrel and his friends as they discover the world of bugs living mere inches from their curious little noses and whiskers. Donaho then introduces readers to the wonders of the insect kingdom and what makes these creatures so unique and important. There's a Bug in My Blossom is appropriate for readers seven to 10 years old or those in the second through fifth grades. The book was a Silver Medalist in Children's Nonfiction at the 2015 Reader's Favorite Awards.

On the first page, Donaho introduces himself to readers and explains how they can best utilize the book. The detailed, full-page photos are geared toward younger kids and those still learning to read or not quite at that point yet. The facing pages are for older readers and adults to learn interesting facts about the photographed insects. In the end, Donaho hopes the book inspires every reader to go out into nature and have their own adventures searching for bugs in blossoms. He recommends moving carefully and cautiously, carrying a magnifying glass, and maintaining a safe distance from bees and wasps.

As the story opens, Freddy the Squirrel is peering into a bright red flower. He exclaims, "There's a bug in my blossom!" And the stage is set for Freddy and his friends to delve into the whole universe of insects they had never previously taken much notice of.



One of those insects is the praying mantis. The praying mantis is a relation of the cockroach and the termite, two other insects who often live inside buildings, but mantises don't resemble cockroaches or termites at all. There are 18 known species of mantises in the United States, and they prefer warmer climates. Mantises are distinctive creatures for several reasons. First, they can turn their heads all the way around to look behind them, which makes them good hunters and formidable predators. Second, they are an insect that eats other insects, as well as other tiny critters. They snap their front legs out with laser-sharp accuracy to grab and eat their prey. Third, praying mantises are not particularly picky eaters. They will eat any creature small enough for their powerful front legs to grasp. So, when you have a praying mantis in your garden, they are good at getting rid of the bad bugs who feed on gardens. But they also get rid of the good bugs who help gardens. Ultimately, praying mantises are kind of a mixed bag, as they have the potential to disrupt delicate ecosystems like backyard gardens.

Donaho explains ecosystems in more detail. Ecosystems encompass all the living things, including insects and plants, that comprise a certain space. An ecosystem can be as small as a flowerpot or as large as an entire state or country.

Praying mantises are just one of many insects readers get to know in this volume. Among the others are carpenter bees and their special talent for drilling holes and tunnels into wood; wolf spiders, who are highly skilled, rather fierce-looking hunters that live alone and don't spin webs; walking sticks, one of the most singular insects out there, which live up to their name and at first glance look like moving twigs; dragonflies, of which there are more than 6,000 varieties, with some of them boasting the ability to fly at speeds of 60 miles per hour; the majestic grasshopper; and determined lizards. Even snails get their time in the sun, even though they are not, technically, insects. Donaho explains how snails are a member of the mollusk family, which includes sea creatures like octopi and squid, but snails can live either on land or in water. They do love wet conditions and will typically only emerge after a good rain.



There's a Bug in My Blossom also goes more in-depth with some of the science behind each of the profiled creatures. For instance, Donaho mentions how dangerous pesticides are for insects and how these toxic chemicals can destroy huge swaths of living things in one fell swoop. He instructs readers on how bees and other bugs pollinate plants, playing such a vital role in the grand scheme of nature. He talks about how butterflies acquire the beautiful colorings and intricate patterns of their wings. And he even addresses a major issue facing the bee population—and the world: the collapse of bee colonies and how that threatens ecosystems across the globe.

As the book ends, an amazed Freddy and his friends marvel at all the insects they found. "And all we had to do was look!" Freddy exclaims.