Module 9: Ace Lacewing Bug Detective

Citation:

Biedrzycki, David. Ace Lacewing, Bug Detective. Charlesbridge Publishing, 2005. Print.

Summary:

The moth detective is hired to discover "who-dun-it" in a classic mystery for young readers.  There's been a disappearance from the royal bee family and Ace is the bug for the job. 

Personal Impression:

I'm not a big mystery fan but even I had to grin at the gritty mystery plot combined with a science lesson concerning bugs.  This was adorable. There is even a map that shows the location of the crime, in the city of Motham.  Obviously, the city's name is a play on Gotham, home of Batman.

Reviews:

When Queenie Bee, of Hive Rise Honey, goes missing, Motham City is abuzz. Tough P.I. Ace Lacewing (“Bad bugs are my business”) is on the case. Red herrings (mosquitoes, maggots, and walkingsticks in this case) abound, all with different stories, but the trench-coat-and--fedora-clad detective remains undaunted, sleuthing his way through the clues until a sticky surprise revelation. Biedrzycki (The Beetle Alphabet Book, 2003) makes his debut as an author here, and although his story is sometimes text heavy, it’s filled with snappy dialogue, wordplay, and puns that will especially appeal to kids with some knowledge of insects (words such as pupae are used). The slick, computer-assisted art has a cartoon flair; and its shadowy backgrounds have a noir flavor. Biedrzycki uses occasional pops of primary color and an array of perspectives and witty detail to add interest. Entertaining fare for those who appreciate creepy crawlies on the humorous side, this will attract both good readers and fans of seek-and-find books. — Shelle Rosenfeld

Retrieved from Booklist Online; http://www.booklistonline.com/ProductInfo.aspx?pid=1494764

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-4–Motham City is abuzz with the kidnapping of Queenie Bee, and Ace Lacewing, the Sam Spade of insects, is on the case. His motto is, Bad bugs are my business. Lacewing follows the trail of honey with the help of his gal, Doctor Xerces Blue, and Sergeant Zito, a mosquito. A motley (and sometimes molting) assortment of suspects is questioned. Their character traits are based on facts: The roaches said of course they ran from the scene of the crime–it was their nature to scatter when the lights go on. Puns and wordplay abound: I've known him ever since we were pupae at the same school; The full moon hung in the sky like a large compound eye.... The digitally enhanced illustrations evoke a film noir atmosphere, with moody blue and black backgrounds. The pages are also brimming with humorous details such as glowworm street lamps, Bug Off police tape, and Slow Larvae road signs. This clever parody of hard-boiled detective stories is sure to tickle readers' thorax.–Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Retrieved from Amazon.com; http://www.amazon.com/Ace-Lacewing-Detective-David-Biedrzycki/dp/1570915695

Use in a Library Setting:

This is an excellent way to introduce young readers to one of the most popular genres of adults.  It should be included in a reader's advisory for students.  Perhaps setting up a section that divides certain exceptional books of their genre, so that children can explore it to decide what they like as far as genre reading is concerned rather than having just a list of titles to show them.  With a rotating display of titles from those genres so that covers could catch their ideas.  Hmmm. Something to think about.