Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Eddie, a passionate reader and a shiny green bug, saves the school library in this funny, heartwarming tale that fans of Flora & Ulysses and Charlotte's Web will love. Includes black-and-white illustrations throughout from Newbery Honor Medalist and New York Times-bestselling author-artist Victoria Jamieson.

Eddie is a tiny green bug who loves to read and who lives behind the chalkboard in the fourth-grade classroom with his parents, his 53 brothers and sisters, and his aunt Min. But when Aunt Min goes to the school library to read a book and never returns, Eddie leaves the comfort of his home for the first time and makes the dangerous trek through Ferny Creek Elementary School to find her. After dodging running sneakers, falling books, and terrifying spiders, Eddie reaches the library, where he discovers Aunt Min stuck in a perilous situation! To top it all off, there's a substitute librarian who aims to close the library for good and get rid of all the books!

Encouraged by the brave deeds done by small creatures such as Stuart Little and Charlotte from Charlotte's Web, Eddie comes up with a plan to save the library--a plan that requires all the courage one little bug can muster.

A great read-aloud and read-alone, this action-packed short novel includes references to classic children's literature throughout and is perfect for fans of Chris Grabenstein's Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library and Lynne Rae Perkins's Nuts to You. Featuring extensive black-and-white art from Newbery Honor Medalist and New York Times-bestselling author-artist Victoria Jamieson.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Publishers Weekly Review

Bailey's eponymous hero, Eddie, is a bright green bug who lives with his 53 siblings in a crack in the wall of Room 19 of Ferny Creek Elementary School. When his Aunt Min goes missing, it's up to Eddie (whose mother writes him off as "a dreamer, a fool-a nincompoop!") to maneuver through treacherous hallways full of "Squishers" to the library to find her. But Eddie's challenges are only beginning: Min is injured and unable to travel, and the school's insect-hating new librarian threatens to make Ferny Creek a book-free zone. Encouraged by the brave characters from his Aunt Min's stories, Eddie resolves to save the library and his aunt. Avid readers will enjoy the plethora of references to beloved children's tales, as well as the adventures of an unlikely champion who overcomes human-size obstacles. The danger is mild, but Eddie delivers an entertaining bug's-eye perspective on the larger world, and Jamieson's b&w spot illustrations match the story's energy and sense of adventure. Ages 8-12. Author's agent: Hilary McMahon, Westwood Creative Artists. Illustrator's agent: Paul Rodeen, Rodeen Literary Management. (June) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

School Library Journal Review

Gr 3-5-Eddie is a beetle who lives with his family in a crack in the wall of the fourth grade classroom at Ferny Creek Elementary School. When his book-loving Aunt Min fails to return from her most recent trip to the school library, Eddie sets out to search for her, only to find her injured, hungry, and marooned atop the librarian's desk. Hiding out in the paper tray, the bugs overhear a disturbing phone conversation between the substitute librarian and the school superintendent: their plan is to close the library and turn it into a testing center. As they watch Miss Visch start packing away the books, Eddie hatches a plan involving blueberry juice, licorice, and yellow sticky notes. Using his legs to write messages, he leaves the notes stuck to books on the shelves, raising suspicion that the benign ghost of a former library volunteer is interceding to save the library. The obvious message is pleasantly tempered by subtle humor, many references to beloved children's books, and themes that celebrate bravery, perseverance, and storytelling. There's lots of action as Eddie faces dangers navigating the world of "squishers" who may trample him at any moment. The writing is breezy and accessible, and children will enjoy the bug's-eye view. A bibliography of referenced titles is included. VERDICT Despite the length, this is a good choice for younger readers and would work well as a classroom read-aloud.-Marie Orlando, formerly at Suffolk Cooperative Library System, Bellport, NY © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Booklist Review

*Starred Review* Taking a cue from Charlotte the spider, a bookish bug finds a way to save a school library from being turned into a testing center. When his beloved Aunt Min disappears on one of her frequent visits to Ferny Creek Elementary's library, dreamy young Eddie nervously leaves the safety of his family's nest to investigate. Finding her alive but too injured to escape, he stays with her to talk about great books like Stuart Little and to listen with delight as classes come throughout the days for storytime. But then the terrific librarian leaves to have triplets and is replaced by Estelle Grisch (rhymes with squish), a crabbed nonprofessional who schemes with her brother, the superintendent, to convert the room. When a comprehensive weeding project begins with the removal of graphic novels, Eddie appeals with a series of Post-it notes: Please . . . save . . . the library. Superstitious as well as narrow-minded, Ms. Grisch is terrified by the supposed ghost. Though she villainizes Ms. Grisch a little too enthusiastically, Bailey fills the narrative with references to classic works of the past and present (and adds a Bugliography at the end), and has picked a theme (and outcome) that will be dear to the hearts of young readers as well as educators and librarians. In occasional drawings, Jamieson portrays Eddie and his clan as beetlelike insects of no particular species.--Peters, John Copyright 2010 Booklist

Horn Book Review

Eddie lives with his parents and fifty-three bug siblings behind an elementary-school chalkboard. When his aunt Min fails to return from the schools library, Eddie leaves the safety of home to rescue her. Although the family consensus is that Eddie (a dreamer, a fool--a nincompoop!) isnt up to the task, he braves the perils of the hallway, dodging careless sneakers and menacing dust mops, to reach her. Aunt Min has been injured and cant make the trek back to the classroom, so Eddie vows to stay with her in the library, a fitting spot for a book-loving young bug. But when the librarian goes on maternity leave and is replaced by the nasty, overbearing Ms. Visch (Rhymes with squish, said Eddie. I dont like [her] already), Eddie launches a plan to save the library from the threat of closure, a cause as important to him as getting Aunt Min home safely. With copious references, both subtle and overt, to the world of childrens literature, the novel offers readers a host of in-jokes that enhance its engaging and lighthearted story line. Eddies humorously wide-eyed, bug-level perspective allows the book to celebrate education and reading without becoming didactic, and Jamiesons personality-rich illustrations match the books tone perfectly. sarah rettger (c) Copyright 2017. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Kirkus Book Review

Eddie is a vibrantly green bug who lives in Ferny Creek Elementary School. Could such a tiny critter become a hero?After his aunt Min goes missing on a trip to the school's library, he sets off to rescue her. But it turns out that she doesn't need rescue quite as much as their school library does. With the librarian on maternity leave, the superintendent brings in wicked, archetypal Ms. Visch ("rhymes with squish") as her replacement. Her only concern is to get rid of the beloved, welcoming library and replace it with an austere testing center. Since Eddie and Aunt Min can read, the library and its familiar works hold a special place in their hearts. Eddie begins to leave notes on the spines of some of their favorite books, hoping to sway Ms. Visch to make a better choice. Instead, she's enraged. The children, believing the notes are the work of a much-loved volunteer who died (smiling) in the library, launch an effort to rescue the place, not even knowing why it's in jeopardy. Bugs are fully rounded characters; people (referred to as Squishers) are just sketched in this bug's-perspective third-person narrative. Rich with references to familiar tales and accompanied by realistic illustrations by Newbery honoree Jamieson, this effort will charm library lovers and would make a fine read-aloud, as brave, endearing Eddie navigates one terrible peril after another. An excellent, engaging tale for a broad range of ages. (Fantasy. 5-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.