My Stinky Summer by S. Bug

Meisel’s third Nature Diary showcases the stink bug in a story that spans five months, from early June, when the brown marmorated stink bug narrator arrives (as “one of the twenty-eight eggs laid on the underside of this leaf”) to early October, when S. Bug tucks itself under tree bark for the winter. Along the way, the gently humorous volume follows S. Bug as it munches on plants, evades predators, and hears, over and over again, “Ew. Stink bug.” Mixed-media art portrays the insect at different stages of maturity amid leafy spreads, and a cameo by another famous stinker—the skunk—draws laughs. Meisel offers contextualizing information in an introduction and back matter, explaining, for example, how the invasive species likely arrived in the United States and how the bug’s scent helps the species to communicate and survive. An effective addition to the series. Ages 4–8. [em](July) [/em]