Explore the fun and fascinating world of insects through this lively question and answer book. Do dragonflies breathe fire? Do stink bugs take baths? Do bedbugs wear pajamas? These silly questions—the kind kids 
often ask—are followed by informative answers, sure to make every reader eager to learn more about insects. Kids will delight in this engaging, interactive read-aloud, and educators, parents, and budding naturalists will enjoy the detailed illustrations. With an extensive authors’ note, this book provides an exciting introduction to insects, suitable for any science lesson. Additional back matter on each of the insect species will inspire further study.
Advance Praise
Witty and clever, this charming sequel to Do Fiddler Crabs Fiddle? takes on a whole lot of bugs and has a ball with them. Mother/daughter team Corinne Demas and Artemis Roehrig have made a bug lover of this previously lukewarm entomologist who up until now preferred her winged creatures to be able to sing songs. The charm continues with Ellen Shi's delicious illustrations. -- Jane Yolen (author of Owl Moon, You Nest Here With Me with her daughter, Heidi E. Y. Stemple, and the upcoming Fly with Me: A National Geographic Book of Birds with her daughter and two sons, Adam and Jason Stemple.)
Reviews and Interviews
Funny speculation is made about the common names of each of 11 insects, after which a few facts are offered. The text is playful, introducing each insect with a question inbold, dark print, beginning with, "Do dragonflies breathe fire?" After the colorful, cartoonish artwork expandson the theme with visions of treasure chests in sand and children dressed aspirates and knights battling fire-equipped dragonflies, the page turn reveals a larger image of the insect along with a definitive "No!" This is followed by information about the unique way a dragonfly catches its prey. The text is pleasingly consistent in this approach, and it offers a nice little surprise with the final bug—plus additional, accessible notes about insects. Overall, clever: entomology via etymology.
-- Kirkus Reviews
... (Do Doodlebugs Doodle?) offers a humorous education into the nature of 11 different insects.Using bright, colorful illustrations by Ellen Shi, the mother and daughter authors ask such questions as “Do stink bugs take baths?” and “Do fireflies roast marshmallows?” The answer to each query (mostly “no”) provides information about the life of the creature in question. Their book is a delight.
-- By Tinky Weisblat
Greenfield Recorder
( Do Doodlebugs Doodle?) is a kid-friendly introduction to a number of bugs whose names might be misleading, but that still have interesting characteristics worth noting. The book takes the form of a lively Q&A in which the authors pose questions about insects, such as “Do horseflies gallop?” Turn the page, and you’ll (mostly) get an emphatic “No!” for an answer — but also a short explanation about the bug in question, such as that horseflies are the fastest flying insects in the world. Those questions are accompanied by entertaining art by illustrator Ellen Shi, like a little boy who sits astride a big horsefly and loses his cap as it takes off.The book’s appendix includes a photo of each bug, its scientific name and a short explanation of its characteristics and habits.
-- by Steve Pfarrer
Daily Hampshire Gazette
Written in Q & A style, this book explores some of the questions kids might ask upon hearing an insect's name....What I like about this book: It's fun and funny. And there's back matter! Each insect gets a bit more up-close-and-personal attention.
-- Archimedes Notebook
Read Complete Blog Review
Kidlit Coffee Talk, April 3, 2018
Talking with Artemis Roehrig
Read the Blog Interview
The Bill Newman Show, WHMP, Northampton, MA, April 12, 2018
Listen to Radio Interview
Mass Appeal, WWLP, Springfield, MA, April 12, 2018
"Bringing literature to life!" with guest Johanna Douglass
Watch Discussion of Do Doodlebugs Doodle?
Artemis Roehrig received her master's degree from the
Organismic and Evolutionary Biology program at the University of Massachusetts. Her research has focused on invasive insects.
From a young age, Ellen Shi was often found with her nose in between the pages a book. She was raised in the suburbs of New Jersey and spent many weekends at the library. She went on to get her BFA in Illustration from RISD hoping to make the world a bit brighter of a place. She thinks children’s books are her calling since the excitement of slapping down a color and the response when sharing illustration makes her feel like she’s on top of the world. Ellen has always admired a variety of artists, but is primarily inspired by life, nature, and color. When not working on her art, you can find her listening to podcasts, marathon-watching movies, or with her nose in between the pages of a book.