I love books that encourage kids to explore the world around them. When kids learn to discover things on their own and direct their own learning, they can unearth new information and interests. Today’s book focuses on scientific discovery for kids. It not only introduces readers to a pair of curious kids, but also joins them on their journey of discovery as they explore something new on their own.

Standard Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a commission from purchases you make through the links in this post. This guest post is sponsored by The Beedog.

The Beedog: An Insect Discovery in Portugal was written by Addie Broussard and illustrated by Joyeeta Neogi. This fun story follows a little girl named Cora and her friend Manny as they head to the beach and make a fun discovery. While building a sandcastle, they find a small bug that they don’t recognize. They examine the little bug, and decide to learn more about it. This book is a great way to teach kids about science, research and discoveries. The two friends have to try a few times to find the bug when they go to research it, showing kids that trial and error and perseverance are important parts of science.

The illustrations that accompany the story are detailed and colorful, giving kids a good glimpse at the curious little insect. This is a great book for encouraging kids to explore the world around them and find out more about the things they see. It is especially relevant with the current push for kids to get more involved in STEM!

Check out my interview with the author and find out more about the story behind this great book!

1. What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?

My first published book is called The Beedog. It was inspired by an encounter that I had with a unique insect in Portugal. I was sitting on the beach and just happened to see this insect digging furiously in the sand. I’d never seen anything like it. I felt like a child again and started telling all my friends about this cool new insect. Curiosity led me to try to find out more about it, but I had a hard time finding it.

The book shares this story through the eyes of Cora and Manny. Cora is a curious, determined six-year old and Manny is her neighbor. He’s the kid that’s always playing jokes on people. They discover the beedog and then are determined to find out what it is. It’s a delightful experience that makes learning fun.

2. What is The Beedog?

Well, I don’t want to spoil the entire book. I can tell you that it’s not a bee even though it looks just like one. The day I encountered the insect in Portugal, I got a quick 10 sec video of it which can be seen here.

3. Did you have to do much research for the book?

Yes. There’s not much written about this insect. There was a scientist named Jean-Henri Fabre in the late 1800’s, who devoted a great part of his life studying it. He was referred to as the Insect Poet. I found a lot of information about the insect’s behavior from his work.

4. Are you developing The Beedog as a series?

I don’t have any plans to make The Beedog a series. However, a new insect has captured my attention. Believe it or not, it’s a type of fly that looks like a dragon. I’m currently working on this story and a few others that are also inspired by my travels. Updates can be found on my website.

5. What is the best writing advice you have ever received?

A lot of writers worry that their writing isn’t good enough. Great advice that has helped me is that a first draft is just like getting all the sand into the sand pit. The next few drafts are when you start to build the sandcastle. This is so true. Brian Faulkner shared this advice recently at a writing retreat. He’s one of Australia’s great YA writers and is well into his 19th book. And funny enough, there’s a sand castle in The Beedog too.

Check out this post on coding sandcastles for more Sand based STEM fun!

6. If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and were only allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?

Oh gosh, being on a deserted island sounds nice but only having 3 or 4 books with me doesn’t! I would have to bring the longest books I could find. Maybe a collection of funny short stories and few bilingual books so I could figure out a new language with all the extra time. What would you bring Vicki?

Definitely one or two of the Harry Potter books, because I never get tired of rereading them! I like the idea of short stories or poems too!

7. What are people saying about The Beedog so far?

People are enjoying the search that Cora and Manny perform to find out what the beedog is. They get some funny results and it’s memorable. A mom wrote in a review that her 4-year-old went looking in his sandbox for beedogs after reading the book! Hopefully he was able to watch the video and see an actual beedog.

I’ve also received great feedback about the blend of nonfiction information and science activities at the end. I was hesitant to make the book seem like a learning book because I really wanted it to capture the magic of the insect discovery. However, once kids are into the book they are happy to read more about the real beedog.

Thanks for chatting with us today Addie. Where can people find the book?
Thanks for having me Vicki! The Beedog can be found on Amazon.

Enter here for a chance to win a signed copy of The Beedog, plus a Bugwatch Science kit and 2 Active Flyer discs!

Author Bio

Addie is an avid traveler, and once went on a solo journey to fifteen countries in one year. When she encounters something unique, she writes about it. Her first published picture book, The Beedog, is about a curious insect that she found in southern Portugal.
Addie began her writing journey when she was just nine years old, with a book called Doggienauts. That book has been updated and is set for publication in 2018. Addie is originally from the United States and is currently a full-time traveler. Home is where her suitcase is.

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