Bothered by Bugs

The woodland animals sit contentedly in a clearing, listening to Pete the Badger read aloud from his recipe book. Their tranquillity is disturbed, however, when a cloud of flies descends, tickling Pete on the nose, frustrating the foxes and distressing the hedgehogs. The animals agree that the pests must go, so they capture all the flies in jars, along with any other bugs they find in the forest.  

At last, the woods are pest free and the animals can set about gathering fruit to make the delicious recipes in Pete’s book. Disastrously, there’s absolutely no fruit to be found and, to make matters worse, the forest is full of poo, as nobody has cleared it away.

As they puzzle over what has happened, a trapped bluebottle explains the vital roles that ‘pests’ play in the ecosystem, from pollinating flowers and trees to breaking down poo and old plants.  

Infused with humour, this superb picture book carries an important message about the natural world. Wonderful to read aloud, the witty, rhyming text provides rhythm and pace. Children will adore exploring the exquisitely detailed illustrations, particularly a sumptuous picnic on the final pages, which is crammed with delectable cakes, tarts, and summer puddings.