Two new books, one for the young set, and one that does double duty for older folks and the very young, are now on the book shelves.
On Saturday, June 24, Ladner author-illustrator Ashley Spires launched another kids’ book, this one that looks into the little world of insects and is entitled Burt the Beetle Lives Here.
It’s a story about a june beetle who’s looking for a place to settle down. He checks out homes of other little creatures, but it takes him awhile to learn where he can call home.
“Bugs rule. Fact and fiction wrapped in hilarity will keep kids laughing while learning about insects,” says a press release announcing the book.
It was formally launched at Indigo Spirit in Richmond Centre. That location was chosen because Ashley’s grandmother, Margaret Spires, 105, lives in a condo above the store and attended the event.
The other half of the double book launch was the release of What Were You Expecting?
Ashley’s cousin Cameron Spires, who also lives in the Delta area, wrote the book for new parents. The book combines illustrations for infants, while “the text is grown-up hilarious,” says a press release. A sample quote is, “This is a house. It’s a lot like one we had to remortgage to pay for your day care.”
While the text is geared for adults, it’s tame enough to be read to a child, unlike other parody books, says the release.
Ashley Spires wrote The Most Magnificent Thing and The Most Magnificent Idea and created the Binky Adventure graphic novel series which inspired the award-winning animated TV series, Agent Binky.
Both books are published by Canadian children’s publisher Kids Can Press, celebrating its 50th anniversary.
