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Bug in a Vacuum
by Melanie Watt |
Bug in a Vacuum is not the typical Watt book. In her latest
book, which will be released August 25, 2015, a bug flies past the family dog
and into the house. As it flies in the house it passes an aerosol can of
Dandelion Repellent. This is the first time the observant reader notices the
book does not take place in the present. The vacuum inside the door reminds me
of my maternal grandmother’s old Electrolux.
As the bug continues to fly around the house,
through the bathroom, the kitchen, bedroom, and finally the living room
glimpses of retro furniture (TV dinner on the Formica tabletop) and décor (hula
lamp and globe) help to determine the setting as the mid 1960s.
It is in the living room everything changes for the bug and
for the careful observer, the family dog. As the dog sits on the sofa the
vacuum sucks up his favorite toy. Moments later the bug , which has landed on
the globe, disappears into the inner bowels of the vacuum. Both creatures then begin their grieving.
From here, the book is divided into small chapters focusing
on each of the five stages of grief. The first, denial is represented by the
can we first saw as the bug flew into the house – denial. The dog’s denial is
portrayed through thought bubbles, while the bug is verbal trying to
communicate with the other items eaten by the giant vacuum. Each subsequent
stage: bargaining, anger, despair, and acceptance is presented in a similar
manner. The story ends with the vacuum being thrown out and picked up by the
waste service. As the little dog runs after the truck he meets a new friend and
seems to move on with his life. When the truck arrives at the land fill, the
vacuum crashes to the ground where the back of the unit falls open allowing the
bug to escape. I love the final image of the two dogs looking at each other as
the sun goes down, while in the foreground a mother bird watches over her eggs
which are slightly hidden by the favorite toy.
Bug in a Vacuum has been described as “a funny, suspenseful and
poignant look at the travails of a bug trapped in a vacuum,” but I think it is
SO much more. Yes, portions of the book are humorous, but the underlying
message in the book is that no matter what trials and tribulations we must face
in life with patience, perseverance, and belief in oneself we will be able to
overcome and move on.
Melanie Watt (best known to my library friends as the mother
of Scaredy Squirrel, Leon the Chameleon, and Chester the Cat) presents a 96-page
picture book which takes the reader through the five stages of grief, also
known as the Kὕbler-Ross model. A brief mention of the Kὕbler-Ross model is
explained at the end of the book as “a series of emotions commonly experienced
when facing a life-changing event.” The model was first introduced in 1969 by
the Swiss psychiatrist in her book On
Death and Dying. The five stages can occur in any order, and may not be
experienced by all facing life-altering events.
Watt has found a unique way in which to present these stages
to young children without preaching. If this book is needed for
bibliotherapy then wonderful discussions
and comparisons can be made throughout, if not the story can be enjoyed simply
for the wonderful presentation created by this incredibly talented author / illustrator.
*To comply with new guidelines introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, Tundra Books has provided a complimentary electronic copy of Bug in a Vacuum for review purposes. My review is in no way influenced by the author or publishing company and is strictly my opinion.
