Reviewed by Dianne Bates
On the floor of the rainforest, far below the tree
canopy, a small grub has a big question, ‘What will I become?’ as he senses that
his body will soon be changing. To answer his question, he approaches some of his
forest friends – such as the ladybird, butterfly, cicada, and more, asking for an
answer. Each of the insects reply in the negative when the grub asks if he will
become like them. The cicada, for instance, pauses mid-song and says, ‘No, as a
nymph I had impressive front legs.’ After each answer, the grub ‘ate and he
ate, and he grew and grew.’
Finally, Grub knows it is time. ‘He built himself a
protective shell out of his droppings and fell asleep, wondering.’ One day,
following the rain when ‘the forest fruits flourished and fell’, he breaks out
of his shell into the bright daylight. He is no longer a grub, but a Hercules
Beetle. (The final spread is of an illustration of the beetle which stretches
across the double pages to show his massive size.)
It is not only the grub’s journey from one stage
(grub) to another (beetle), but each of the insects who Grub meets explains its
metamorphosis, so this book provides the young reader with useful biological
information. The illustrations, too, are excellent in that they show the flora
and fauna of a rainforest and its insects. On the front fly pages all kinds of grubs,
beetles, and other insects are shown in their early life cycle: the final fly
pages show them as their adult selves after metamorphosis.
The illustrations are realistic and beautiful. One can
almost ‘smell’ the forest odours. The trees, ferns, and bushes are faithfully rendered
as are the timbers, grasses, fungi, and other ground coverings. There is a
particularly attractive page showing the forest flowers, which include orchids and
fly catchers. Every page invites the reader to examine it for deft touches (such
as wandering ants, dewdrops, and underwater leaves – and an abandoned boot!)
After the final reveal of the Hercules Beetle are five
facts – such as the beetle is among the largest of the Rhinoceros Beetles, with
males growing up to 19 centimetres long (71/2 inches).
This is an excellent non-fiction picture book ideal
for young nature lovers aged 5 years and old.
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