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Reviewed by Jennifer Reinoehl for Readers' Favorite
Janice Hostetter’s The Ballad of Levi Locust is a cute picture book. Levi Locust loves to play country music on his banjo. He spends his whole day flying to a shady tree, a flower patch, tall grass, and a daisy, but at each place, another insect, including Bradley Bee or MaryBeth Monarch, is already there to complain about his music. The other insects keep asking Levi to move on to another place. Will Levi be able to find a spot where he can express himself by using his talent without being asked to move on?
The Ballad of Levi Locust is a good way to teach kids the lesson of never giving up. Levi does not let the negative attitude of each of the insects discourage him. Instead, he moves on and looks for a better place to play his music in peace. Kindergarteners and preschoolers will enjoy the gently rhyming verse and easy-to-understand words. Parents can find many lessons to teach beyond the primary one of keeping at it. Kids will learn that there are other people out there like them if they look hard enough. They will learn that sometimes it is better to find a new place to play than to argue with others. They will also learn how important it is to be themselves even when others want them to conform to their standards. Aklima Monnaf created adorable anthropomorphic bugs to go with Janice Hostetter’s verses. My favorite is Lulu Ladybug because I like the expression on her face and her tapping foot.
