Summer Read-to-Learn BUZZ! by Toni Buzzeo
All summer, I’ll be sharing books for kids of all ages on topics that interest them or offer something new to learn about. Most of the time, these will be nonfiction books, but sometimes we can learn from fictional stories too. I believe reading over the summer is so important, and keeping kids interested in reading by finding relevant books about topics that they are interested in is very important. Kids should read at least 20 minutes every day, and I hope that these books offer you ideas to keep your kids reading and learning all summer.
I hope you will stay tuned to these posts. They will always have Summer Read-to-Learn in the title and will be tagged in the post. There will be books on all kinds of topics kids love to read and learn about. Be sure to stop by each week to see what book I’m sharing as part of my Summer Read-to-Learn series.
To see all the books in the Summer Read-to-Learn series, click HERE.
BUZZ!
Being Brave Around Buzzy, Stinging Insects
By: Toni Buzzeo
Illustrated by: Joe Cepeda
Published: June 16, 2026
Publisher: Holiday House
If you go outside right now, you are bound to see a buzzing insect. Wasps, hornets, and bees are often flying among the flowers, in the vegetable gardens, and in your backyards. When kids hear a buzzing sound, it’s natural for them to shout, flap their arms, and run away. Unfortunately, that only riles up the insects more. Reading BUZZ! will help kids learn how to remain calm, how to watch the insects from a safe distance, and what to do if they do get stung.
In kid-friendly language with illustrations showing three friends outside observing the insects, kids will learn why these insects are so important, how to approach them, and what NOT to do if you come near them. Bees pollinate flowers and vegetables, which are essential to all of us having food. Wasps and hornets eat the insects that destroy our food sources. Again, making sure humans have the food we need. If we make a lot of noise, it is natural for them to react by attacking us because they are feeling threatened.
I appreciated that Toni also included what to do if you are stung because if you are outside, it’s likely to happen at some point in your life. She also uses onomatopoeia that children can read on the page and enjoy saying aloud as they read. The end of the book includes a page of facts for each insect and the specific breed of insect depicted in Joe’s illustrations.
Toni Buzzeo is the New York Times bestselling children’s author of thirty-one picture books and one middle grade novel as well as eleven books for teachers and librarians. A former librarian and college and high school writing teacher, Toni and her books have won many awards, including a 2013 Caldecott Honor for One Cool Friend, illustrated by David Small, and the Cardinal Cup Award for Light Comes to Shadow Mountain. Her fictional human and animal characters echo children’s experiences in a variety of ways. Her nonfiction topics range from inspiring biographies of women scientists to board books about vehicles and transportation. Endlessly enthusiastic, Toni draws on her career experiences as an elementary school librarian in crafting her books. Toni lives just a short hop north of Boston and just downstairs from her two lovable grandchildren and creates in her beloved writing cottage featured on her website.
Joe Cepeda received his BFA in Illustration from California State University, Long Beach. He is the illustrator of award-winning picture books such as What a Truly Cool World (Scholastic), Nappy Hair (Knopf), Mice and Beans (Scholastic), including The Swing (Arthur A. Levine Books), which he wrote as well as illustrated. Mr. Cepeda has illustrated books written by numerous notable authors including Gary Soto, Pam Muñoz Ryan, Arnold Adoff, Monica Brown, Julius Lester and Toni Morrison. He’s also illustrated book jackets for several titles, including Esperanza Rising and Newbery Medal winner, Merci Suarez Changes Gears. Mr. Cepeda received an ALA 2002 Pura Belpré Honor Award and the Recognition of Merit Award from the George G. Stone Center for Children’s Books. Joe was awarded a Capstone Fellowship for 2016. In addition to his illustrative work, Mr. Cepeda is sought after as a public speaker to schools and other groups. He is the president of the Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles. He lives in Southern California.
Click HERE to purchase a copy of BUZZ!
