A book review of When the Air Sang by Laura Bontje
Stars: ****
Annick Press (2025)
Picture Books>Insects
Disclosure: I received this book in exchange for an honest review. This post contains affiliate links.
Summary: A gorgeous picture book about a young insect enthusiast who learns about the ever-mysterious cicada and how our curiosity about nature never truly goes away.
Annie is tired of waiting for the cicadas to finally appear: every day, they show hints of their upcoming arrival, but to her disappointment, they seem to be taking their sweet time coming out. As Annie’s anticipation builds to bursting, she is joined first by her great-grandmother, then her grandmother, then her mother―each of whom has her own cicada story to tell. When the magnificent insects finally appear and sing their incredible songs, Annie realizes some things are worth the wait.
This lovely picture book is perfect for amateur bug lovers and aspiring entomologists alike: alongside debut illustrator Sarah Whang’s stunning art, author Laura Bontje turns an ordinary backyard into a magical world filled with wonder. Readers will be swept away by their own curiosity as they explore all the fascinating things about nature just outside our doors. Informative, expert-reviewed backmatter on cicadas provide further context on these fascinating creatures.
When the Air Sang
This cute little book explains what cicadas are and their unique life cycle to a young reader. The words are soft but educational. The illustrations by Sarah Whang are perfect and remind me of crayon art. The book would be a perfect read for ages 5-8 especially. I would use it in a classroom or homeschool for teaching about insects but it could be just a fun read as well.
I like that it encourages children to see insects not as scary but as interesting creatures. At the end of the book are some educational pages that go over cicadas and their lifecycle without a story. You can get a good look inside at the publisher’s page.
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