The Beedog

A Strange Insect Discovery

Children - Picture Book
42 Pages
Reviewed on 06/04/2018
Buy on Amazon

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.

Author Biography

Addie is an avid traveler, and once went on a solo journey to fifteen countries in one year. When she encounters something unique, she writes about it. Her first published picture book, The Beedog, is about a curious insect that she found in southern Portugal.

Addie began her writing journey when she was just nine years old, with a book called Doggienauts. That book has been updated and is set for publication in 2019. Addie is originally from the United States, and is currently a full-time traveler. Home is where her suitcase is.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

The Beedog: An Insect Discovery in Portugal is a children’s educational picture book written by Addie Broussard and illustrated by Joyeeta Neogi. Cora and her friend, Manny, were all ready for a fun-filled day at Carvalho beach in Portugal. They had their beach towels, sand buckets and frisbees ready and waiting. Cora’s mom drove them to the beach where they marvelled at the beauty of the beach and the surrounding hillsides. Cora and Manny were having a grand time building a sand castle and playing when they suddenly discovered a strange insect that seemed to also be building a sand castle. Cora thought it looked like a bee, but she wondered about how its eyes were different, and the digging behavior was definitely strange. When they got home, they decided to try to find out what their little 'beedog' actually was.

Addie Broussard’s educational picture book for children, The Beedog: An Insect Discovery in Portugal, is a book filled with beach time fun that also teaches kids about travel to other countries and the different types of animals and insects one might encounter. I loved watching how Cora and Manny use their computer skills to research the beedog and identify it. Joyeeta Neogi’s illustrations are brilliant and lots of fun. From gorgeous views of sandy beaches to a whimsical picture of a bee holding a sand shovel, each panel is boldly colored and works to reinforce the story. The Beedog: An Insect Discovery in Portugal is an ideal selection for story time, but the print size and carefully limited vocabulary also make it a perfect choice for a new reader. It’s most highly recommended.

Donna Gielow McFarland

The Beedog: An Insect Discovery in Portugal by Addie Broussard is a picture book about two children, Manny and Cora, and their trip to the beach. After building a sand version of a cat named Luna, and then going SPLAT and looking like a mummy, Manny discovers an interesting bug. Manny and Cora decide it’s a bee, but it’s digging in the sand like a dog, so they call it a beedog. Back at home, the children research online to learn what kind of a bug it really is. They search for “beedog,” but they get pictures of dogs in bee costumes, so they have to figure out a better way to describe what they’re looking for. At the end of the book are some scientific facts about the bug they found. If you sign up on the book’s website, you also have access to printable educational resources.

The Beedog has a lot of kid appeal with color illustrations on every page. I think kids will relate to going to the beach or finding a new type of bug, but they will definitely relate to trying to find something online only to come up with unexpected results! I thought this part of the book was the most well done. I typed “beedog” into Google and I, too, got pictures of dogs in bee costumes. That’s good, because kids are going to want to try it after reading The Beedog. Addie Broussard does a nice job of telling a story that her target audience (ages 4-8) can easily relate to. The Beedog is especially recommended for young bug lovers.

Jane Finch

The Beedog: An Insect Discovery in Portugal, written by Addie Broussard and illustrated by Joyeeta Neogi, tells the story of Cora and her friend from next door, Manny, who visit a beach in Portugal. While they are playing in the sand, making a sand sculpture of Cora’s cat, they see a strange bee and watch as it shovels sand. It almost looks like the bee is making a sand sculpture too. After they enjoy their day at the beach, Cora and Manny go on to their computer to find out more details about the bee, because they want to know why it was shoveling sand. It takes a while, but eventually they find out all about the insect and why it was digging in the sand.

The author, Addie Broussard, has written a delightful story which is not only entertaining in itself, but also informative about certain types of insects and their habitats. Add to that the activity pages at the end which give the young reader lots of information in a fun way, and this book would make an ideal addition to any classroom for young learners. The illustrations are colourful and depict the characters perfectly, with Cora looking fun and Manny full of mischief. The cover is particularly appealing. Both author and illustrator have really brought this story to life and it is bound to attract the young reader. Enjoyable and informative.