cover image The 12 Bugs of Christmas

The 12 Bugs of Christmas

David A. Carter. Little Simon, $14.95 (12pp) ISBN 978-0-689-83104-1

Fans of Carter's Bugs in a Box series get more of what they like in this pop-up parody as a nimble troupe of nonsensical bugs upends a familiar Christmas carol. As in the previous books, each spread reveals another gaily wrapped box; inside each box is a new bug surprise, from a ""fruitcake bug"" grinning in a pear tree and ""eight popcorn bugs a-popping."" The grand finale--a dozen ""angel bugs"" dangling from a full-size tabletop ornament--is an eye-popper; aside from that feat, there's not much new here. Ages 2-5. (Oct.)