Pint-size Prunella is the authority on all things insect in this delightful paper-over-board volume. Gran (Princess Penelope
) draws Prunella herself with massive bug eyes, wing-like arms, a ladybug dress and hair ribbons that protrude like antennae. The heroine inhabits a room outfitted with a variety of buggy furnishings (a bee-shaped clock, a chair with a back resembling a ladybug) and home to many winged and six-legged creatures (an ant farm and, in the book's denouement, a dung beetle). Not surprisingly, no one seems to have the time—or the inclination—to share in Prunella's interest. But when she finally gets her moment in the sun (involving a homeless colony of bees), Prunella offers a solution that saves the day. Finally, she gets what she was hoping for: an appreciative audience. Gran nicely portrays a heroine whose passion is its own reward. Ages 4-8. (Feb.)
