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Library | Call Number | Status |
|---|---|---|
Searching... Monmouth Public Library | BIEDRZYCKI | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
When Queenie Bee goes missing, Ace Lacewing is hot on the honey trail. With his trusty sidekick, Sergeant Zito the Mosquito, Ace combs Motham City for clues. But the suspects are piling up, including Motham enemy number one, Al the Drone. Will Ace find Queenie Bee before it's too late? Moody illustrations capture the feel of film noir.
Author Notes
David Biedrzycki has been creating illustrations for book publishers, advertising agencies, magazines, and design firms since 1980. His art has graced the cover of KidSoft magazine, New England Aquarium billboards and children's software packaging, such as "The Amazon Trail" and "Odell Down Under." He is the author/illustrator of the Ace Lacewing, Bug Detective series as well as ME AND MY DRAGON and ME AND MY DRAGON: SCARED OF HALLOWEEN. He also illustrated THE BEETLE ALPHABET BOOK and DORY STORY. David lives in Medfield, Massachusetts.
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 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 (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
There's trouble in Motham City, and Ace Lacewing--the Sam Spade of insects--is on the case. This parody of hard-boiled detective stories features bug facts and puns (""we were pupae at the same school"") but is so long-winded that readers probably won't learn anything or care who kidnapped Queenie Bee. The dark, digitally colored art is only slightly creepy. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
His bright yellow trench coat lighting up the tenebrous mean streets of Motham City, crack gumshoe Ace Lacewing swoops into action when Hive Rise Honey Company's Queenie Bee goes missing. Could the culprit be Smooch the Assassin Bug? Unsavory honey magnate Al the Drone? With help from police sergeant Zito the Mosquito and considerably more from blue-winged bombshell Xerces Blue, Ace proceeds to find out--though not before a visit to the deadly Beetle Zoo and some close encounters with praying mantis thugs nearly put Lacewing's lights out for good. Biedrzycki depicts his chitinous crew in high-gloss digital glam, strews puns and sight gags with abandon and finally sends his hardboiled hero off for a well-earned, post-dÉnouement platter of aphids à la mode. Fans of Doug Cushman's Mystery at the Club Sandwich (2004) and similar capers will happily sink their mandibles into this buggy brouhaha. (Picture book. 7-9) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Gr. 2-4, younger for reading aloud. 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 Copyright 2005 Booklist