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Mr. Mosquito Put on His Tuxedo by Barbara Olenyik Morrow

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Picture Book
2009
Illustrated by Ponder Goembel

It's the mark of a good author when one of earth's most unpopular insects can be made into a hero and actually have the reader cheering for it by the end of the book. This is what happens in Mr. Mosquito Put on His Tuxedo. I don't like mosquitoes, as most sane people don't. They only, and I quote Mr. Mosquito himself, " . . . like to annoy". They are also good at spreading several diseases among the human race. But . . . as Mr. Mosquito dons his tuxedo and goes to the ball, he is so utterly charming, dashing, and, in the end, heroic, I couldn't help but like him! The rhyming text by Morrow is clever and upbeat. The colored ink with acrylic wash illustrations by Goembel are whimsical and wonderfully detailed (note the tuxes with tails and beautiful ball gowns). I wasn't paying close enough attention to the pictures the first time I read through it because I was taken by surprise at the end by the setting. I had to go back and read it again just for the illustrations and that time, I got it. I won't spoil it for you, get this book and read it! A terrific read aloud for young children!

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