Bug in a Vacuum

Very cute book. Love the art work.  The 2 stories of loss playing off each other is simply done.

Melanie Watt has always done a great job combining a great children's story with an underlying life lessons.

In the Scaredy Squirrel series, she introduces the struggle and rewards of going outside your comfort zone. Her other books tackle feelings of frustration while waiting or being different all the while, wrapping it in the veneer of a funny picture book.

This book has fantastic, humorous pictures to go with the story of a fly that inadvertently gets sucked into a vacuum. In silly ways, the fly goes through the five stages of grief (as described by famed and beloved psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross . Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance.

Parents can keep it simple for the little ones, or engage older children in discussion about the feelings we often go through when something bad happens to us. There are also a lot of "phrases" that can be taught to children. "On top of the world", "wouldn't hurt a fly", etc.

Each "stage" or "feeling" as I translated to my young kiddos, was prefaced by a funny product that was named the same as the stage.

I applaud the author for successfully marrying a fun children's picture books with disguised opportunity to teach about some of life's deeper lessons.

Thank you Random House of Canada Limited/Tundra Books and Netgalley for a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Beautiful illustrations for a wonderful story. Loved Bug and Dog. Funny story with lots of heart.

I've never encountered a children's book like Bug in a Vacuum before-- and that's a good thing. It is utterly captivating in its originality. 

As the title suggests, the story maps out the misadventures of a bug trapped in a vacuum. In the vacuum, the bug goes through the Five Stages of Grief. And things get a bit depressing. I felt for this bug. My heart hurt for this bug. A short, (deceptively) simple, little children's book made me feel FEELINGS. 

I think this book is brilliant, and I'm sure having the proper conversation with the child who is reading this book about the really big concepts inside it will be educational and enlightening-- perhaps for all parties involved.

I will definitely recommend this title to others, as well as purchase a physical copy for my goddaughter when it's released. 5/5 Stars.

An offbeat approach to the not easily broached subject of grief, with excellent illustrations.

When I first read that popular Canadian author/illustrator Watt would be releasing a picture book titled "Bug in a Vacuum", I must admit that I was hooked by the title alone. Would it- could it- really be about a bug in a vacuum? What would be the core of the story? To my genuine surprise and delight, Watt has written and illustrated a children's story based upon the five stages of grief. 

We're introduced to lively Bug, who, by all appearances, is having a lovely day. Bug has escaped the reach of a dog named Napoleon and is zigzagging through a house. But then, at the top of the world (resting on a globe), Bug gets sucked into a vacuum. What a cruel twist of fate! 

What then follows is the reader accompanying Bug as he works his way through denial, bargaining, anger, despair and acceptance. Lest you wonder whether Bug can convey and express these intense stages, do not fret. Watt, I think, does a rather brilliant job of writing and illustrating the five distinct and fierce emotions through Bug's vantage point, while providing wit and comic relief . Additionally, running parallel to Bug's story is Napoleon going through the same five stages- albeit wordlessly- as he loses his favourite toy to the vacuum. I quite enjoyed this secondary story as it not only adds another layer of humour and visual interest but also a varying finale. 

A thoughtful story, a unique story; a story that offers things to think about with each reading. I think both adults and children alike will find much to love, ponder and see in each reading (the level of detail in the illustrations is pretty incredible).  As far as I can recall, there is definitely not a plethora of current picture books about the Kubler-Ross stages of grief, or grief in general, so Melanie Watt's offering is extremely welcome. Overall, this picture book is wonderfully accomplished and one that I would definitely recommend to readers young and old.

A bug who gets sucked into a vacuum goes through the five stages of grief (the Kübler-Ross model)? Oh man! It was cute, funny, and sad at the same time. And it made me rethink sucking up spiders with my vacuum.

Lovely book about loss from the perspective of a bug and a dog, each dealing with process of grieving. The illustrations are captivating and humorous.