About the Author

Lisa Wheeler has written many books for children, including The Pet Project, illustrated by Zachariah OHora; Spinster Goose, illustrated by Sophie Blackall; and People Don't Bite People and People Share with People, both illustrated by Molly Idle. She lives with her family in Addison, Michigan. Visit her online at LisaWheelerBooks.com.

Ponder Goembel has illustrated eight books, including two others by Lisa Wheeler, Old Cricket, a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, and Sailor Moo; A Basket Full of White Eggs, by Brian Swann; and The Night Iguana Left Home, by Megan McDonald. She lives in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, where the 2005 floods threatened to wash away the nearly finished paintings for this book. Her Web site is www.pondergoembel.com.

Reviews

"Smartly paced and skillfully drawn, this tale delivers a gentle comeuppance sure to please smart young bugs."-- "Publishers Weekly," starred review

"The figures in this original tale seem ready to spring off the pages, and the text, laced with creaks and cracks, is a natural for reading aloud."-- "Kirkus Reviews," starred review

"This amusing tale...will be requested again and again."-- "School Library Journal," starred review

Think of a cross between Aesop's fable 'The Grasshopper and the Ant' and Steven Spielberg's movie "Jurassic Park" and you're getting close to the feel of Lisa Wheeler's gently preachy, very cinematic, very scary "Old Cricket."" -- "New York Times Book Review"

"Think of a cross between Aesop's fable 'The Grasshopper and the Ant' and Steven Spielberg's movie "Jurassic Park" and you're getting close to the feel of Lisa Wheeler's gently preachy, very cinematic, very scary "Old Cricket.""-- "New York Times Book Review"

K-Gr 2-Old Cricket tries to avoid winter preparations by complaining of various ailments on his way to see Doc Hopper. Industrious Aunt Katydid, Uncle Ant, and others sympathize until an unexpected encounter with Crow quickly restores Old Cricket's agility. Clever wordplay and amusing illustrations of the insect world add to read-aloud fun. (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

"Smartly paced and skillfully drawn, this tale delivers a gentle comeuppance sure to please smart young bugs."

-- "Publishers Weekly," starred review

"The figures in this original tale seem ready to spring off the pages, and the text, laced with creaks and cracks, is a natural for reading aloud."

-- "Kirkus Reviews," starred review

"This amusing tale...will be requested again and again."

-- "School Library Journal," starred review

Think of a cross between Aesop's fable 'The Grasshopper and the Ant' and Steven Spielberg's movie "Jurassic Park" and you're getting close to the feel of Lisa Wheeler's gently preachy, very cinematic, very scary "Old Cricket.""

-- "New York Times Book Review"

"Think of a cross between Aesop's fable 'The Grasshopper and the Ant' and Steven Spielberg's movie "Jurassic Park" and you're getting close to the feel of Lisa Wheeler's gently preachy, very cinematic, very scary "Old Cricket.""

-- "New York Times Book Review"