Reviews

Crickwing by Janell Cannon

wallflower755's review against another edition

adventurous slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

It was cute.

mrs_erven's review against another edition

4.0

I just needed him to apologize before hatching a plan.

dandelionfluff's review against another edition

2.0

Not too sure how I feel about this one! Crickwing is named after his bad wing, which is eventually unwittingly fixed. If a character is going to be disabled in some way, why not let them remain so? The plot eventually unfolded like Pixar's A Bug's Life, and ended on a happy note. Not as poignant as her other works.

divadiane's review against another edition

3.0

This is a very good book, one my son has chosen for story time several times since we checked it out from the library. The is about a deformed cockroach (don't hold that against poor Crickwing!) who is picked on by his fellows. While trying to avoid them, he forages in the dead of night, falling prey (well, almost and repeatedly) to bigger creatures of the night. He has an artistic side and likes to make art out if his food and then it gets swiped. One day he sees the leaf-cutter ants and sees an opportunity to make himself feel more important by terrorizing them. They retaliate and he is sent to the army ants as a peace offering. They will surely rip him to shreds and his captors/escorts have pity on him and release him, but now what'll they do to appease the army ants?!? Crickwing is amazed and grateful and has an idea. As a result, the leaf-cutter ants are saved and Crickwing finally discovers where he belongs.

This story is basically about the broader effects of bullying and war/feuds and how it really only takes one party to forgive to break the cycle.

The color illustrations are beautiful, if slightly busy. There are also black and white drawings on the text pages which give a bit more detail to the story which are clearer. It's a shame that you don't see a healthy cockroach before seeing Crickwing. I'm afraid the bent wing is a little lost on a child who's never seen a cockroach.

cherylanntownsend's review against another edition

5.0

Escaping from the hunger of a toad, Crickwing the cockroach sets himself apart from his fellow insects, who tease him about his handicap. His nightly searches for food leave him hungry, as he allows too much time creating sculptures of the bits he finds, which are swiped away from larger creatures who happen upon his intense concentration. Frustrated, hungry and in pain, he takes his situation out on a colony of leaf-cutting ants with bullying antics. But the table turns and they, en masse, tether him up as a sacrifice to the army ants. A change of heart for all leaves us with a cheery lesson on acceptance. Beautiful and fun illustrations make this a delight.

(I believe even Kafka would be pleased!)

satyridae's review

3.0

Comparatively slight, this story of a cockroach with a broken wing and a flair for food preparation is heartwarming and sweet. Cannon explores the nature of bullying in a particularly subtle way, and ties it all up with a multi-species bow at the end. Doesn't stand up to her earlier work, in my opinion, though the illustrations are delightful.