Kid Review – When The Air Sang – picture book
Bontje, Laura. When the Air Sang. Illustrated by Sarah Whang. NP: Annick Press, 2025.
Guide to categories: Kid Review – review of books for elementary-aged and younger children
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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.
Purchase When the Air Sang on Amazon – https://amzn.to/4nci8pc
My Kid Review
When the Air Sang is a wonderful picture book, especially for young insect enthusiasts. Laura Bontje shows the life cycle of the cicada through a delightful story that spans 4 generations of females. She also closes the book with several pages of non fiction information.
Sarah Whang’s illustrations are beautiful and extend the story. I love how she used sepia photo-type pictures to depict the historical aspects of the story.
When the Air Sang would be a book to pair with a science lesson on insects or cicadas. The book is appropriate for elementary-age students. Some middle school students may also find the book beneficial.
When the Air Sang would be a great addition to the picture book section of a K-12 Christian school library.
I received a complimentary copy or When the Air Sang. This is my honest review.
About the Author – Laura Bontje
Laura Bontje is an author and freelance book editor. Raised in Calgary, she now lives with her husband, kids, and cat in London, Ontario.
Meet the Illustrator – Sarah Whang
Sarah Whang is a Korean-Canadian illustrator and comic artist based in Toronto. She loves to mix texture and color to create magical yet cozy scenes. This is her first picture book.
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