The Motham City Stinkbugs finally have an opportunity to have a winning season due to the team's hard-hitting rookie, Bugsy Goldwing. But as the end of the season was nearing, Bugsy had a big problem - his bat had been stolen. Bugsy attributed his ability to this bat which he had won during a contest among his fellow orphans from the Li'l Larva Orphanage. His friends from the orphanage, Fly Cobb, Hoppi Leafhopper, Mickey Mantis, and Derek Skeeter were now his rivals. All of them resented Bugsy winning the bat. Madame Damselfly contracted the services of Ace Lacewing, Bug Detective, to solve this crime. Ace and his assistant Xerces visited all the suspects and listened to their alibis while the forlorn Bugsy was shut out. Through tough talking detective work the culprit is found and squashed as he ran towards his seventh MVP title. Bugsy had one more chance and save the game for the Stinkbugs. With his trusty bat, Bugsy slugged the ball out of the park and wins the game. This book has many bug puns and great use of insect vocabulary. Students who like baseball and mysteries should really enjoy this book. The book is the third in the Ace Lacewing, Bug Detective series.

The Stinkbugs' great season is on the line, because Bugsy Goldwing's lucky bat has been stolen, and he doesn't think he can hit without it. Hard-thoraxed PI Ace Lacewing checks out the Stinkbug locker room when a roach enters and fingers Bugsy's jersey. Ace threatens to turn on the light unless the Roach comes clean. He took the bat, all right, but doesn't know who left the money for it. Ace and his Gal Friday, Xerces, start interviewing Bugsy's former schoolmates from the Li'l Larva Orphanage. They all envied Bugsy's bat but all deny anything to do to do with the theft. When the gang from the orphanage shows up at a Stinkbug game to give Madame Damselfly an award, the bat is recovered when the real culprit tries to frame the manager. Bugsy's bat is cracked, so he realizes that what Madame Damselfly taught him was right: "It's not the size of the bat. It's the size of your heart."

Another oversized book, full of a colorful array of fascinating creatures. The full-color illustrations, created in Adobe Photoshop, are as fascinating as the text. The inside covers contain wonderful settings of the story.

It's springtime at Stinkbug Stadium and someone has stolen Bugsy Goldwing's lucky bat. Bugsy thinks he can't win, unless he has the bat of Lou Earwig's, famous bug leaguer. Stink bugs, roaches, butterflies, leafhoppers and ants are all suspect and Detective Ace Lacewing is called to help find the missing bat before they lose the playoff game. When the bat is found, it is cracked and Bugsy has no choice but to get another bat. It is Madame Damselfly who yells, "It's not the size of your bat"--and Bugsy knows what he has to do.

Can an insect shamus solve the case of the missing bat? Motham City is abuzz with the surprise success of its (usually pathetic) baseball team, the Stinkbugs, led by rookie Bugsy Goldwing. But disaster strikes when somebody steals Bugsy's bat. Bugsy's surrogate mother, Madame Damselfly, turns to Motham's most famous gumshoe, Ace Lacewing. With sultry Gal Friday Xerces (a green-haired butterfly beauty), the hard-boiled Ace questions Bugsy's fellow orphans-turned-rivals Big Mickey Mantis, Derek Skeeter, Fly Cobb et al., and even travels with the team for their final away game before the playoffs. After an attack on the Stinkbugs coach, Ace is able to unravel the mystery in time for the team to rally and win the game. Part mystery, part sports novel, part spoof, Biedrzycki's sublime fable is also full of fun insect facts. His generous text, narrated by Ace in vintage Chandler fashion, may suit an older age group than his Photoshop illustrations, but both have appeal.

This adventure takes the buggy private investigator into the world of baseball. Bugsy Goldwing, the star rookie player for the Stinkbugs, Motham City's home team, has his lucky bat stolen right before a big game, and Ace is hired to find it. The trail takes him to ballparks and locker rooms throughout the league. The complicated story unravels slowly and reveals the thief to be Bugsy's competition for the MVP award. The bat is found cracked. But Bugsy realizes that it's not the bat; it's his ability and he knocks the ball out of the park. The case is solved. The Photoshop-produced illustrations are crisp and colorful, although in rather flat hues. The story has a noir feel to it, as the detectives all wear trench coats and talk tough. The lengthy text is laden with insect jokes, puns, and bug names and the plot is rather convoluted. Nonetheless, fans of the previous two Ace Lacewing titles will enjoy this one.

Ace Lacewing returns to solve his third mystery, this time in the world of baseball. Madame Damselfly comes to see Ace about a serious problem; rookie stinkbug Bugsy Goldwing's lucky bat has been stolen and he can't hit without it. Bugsy grew up in Madame Damselfly's Lil'l Larva Orphanage, which is known for turning out Bug League players. Narrationg this noir parody, Ace, with his sidekicks Xerces and Sergeant Zito, investigates each of Bugsy's fellow orphans and ball players, Derek Skeeter, Big Hoppy Leafhopper, Mickey Mantis, and Fly Cobb, to look for clues and find the culprit. The text is chock full of puns and wordplay that will engage a reader, e.g., "I could have been a fly on the wall. I settled for being a lacewing in a towel cart." The brightly colored digital, cartoon style illustrations robustly depict this insect world and are full of fun details to discover, e.g., a depictionof Stinkbug Stadium includes crazed fans shown on the "Bug-o-Tron" and sports billboards including "Got milkweed?" "Fresh Dung Poop Corn," and an ad for "No Larva Left Behind." Despite the long text, insects, baseball, and mystery are the perfect combo for an exciting story with a satisfying conclusion that will appeal to those with a longer attention span.

Ace Lacewing returns to solve his third mystery, this time in the world of baseball. Madame Damselfly comes to see Ace about a serious problem; rookie stinkbug Bugsy Goldwing's lucky bat has been stolen and he can't hit without it. Bugsy grew up in Madame Damselfly's Lil'l Larva Orphanage, which is known for turning out Bug League players. Narrationg this noir parody, Ace, with his sidekicks Xerces and Sergeant Zito, investigates each of Bugsy's fellow orphans and ball players, Derek Skeeter, Big Hoppy Leafhopper, Mickey Mantis, and Fly Cobb, to look for clues and find the culprit. The text is chock full of puns and wordplay that will engage a reader, e.g., "I could have been a fly on the wall. I settled for being a lacewing in a towel cart." The brightly colored digital, cartoon style illustrations robustly depict this insect world and are full of fun details to discover, e.g., a depictionof Stinkbug Stadium includes crazed fans shown on the "Bug-o-Tron" and sports billboards including "Got milkweed?" "Fresh Dung Poop Corn," and an ad for "No Larva Left Behind." Despite the long text, insects, baseball, and mystery are the perfect combo for an exciting story with a satisfying conclusion that will appeal to those with a longer attention span.

Bugsy Goldwing is the powerhouse hitter for the Motham City Stinkbugs, but when his lucky bat turns up missing just before the big playoff game, it's time for bug detective Ace Lacewing to step in to solve the mystery. This third in the series of insect detective stories allows young readers to experience the mystery-detective genre through the picture book format. A miniaturized spoof of the dime-store detective novels from the 1940s, this title provides readers, both young and old, with the opportunity to step back in time when right triumphed over wrong and the bad bugs were squashed under the heel of justice. Using Adobe Photoshop, Biedrzycki creates an insect city filled with daily activities and amusements, mcu like those enjoyed by humans. Through clever descriptions and thoughtful personification, Biedrzycki easily lures the reader into a believable world where insects, such as Mickey Mantis, Derek Skeeter, and Fly Cobb, successfully compete in the all-American pastime. Word-play and an abundance of literary concepts are found throughout, making this story not onlt an enjoyable reading experience but also a unique medium for teaching literary elements.

Bugsy Goldwing has Motham City abuzz. The young slugger has a hot bat and his team, the Stinkbugs, have launched a serious assault on the league title. Unfortunately, some dastardly low life has snitched the kid's bat and suddenly he's not able to launch the ball the way he has done before.

With the entire season hanging in the balance, it is up to detective Ace Lacewing to find the missing bat and save the day for the Stinkbugs, who are about to tackle the Leafhoppers in a key contest.

Ace's investigation has him rubbing wings with the likes of Coach Pee Wee Reeks, Fly Cobb, Mickey Mantis, and Big Hoppi - and one of these characters may know what happened to the missing hardwood.

The latest in the Ace Lacewing series, this mystery will have young readers pouring over the pages, looking for clues along with the indomitable buggy sleuth. As usual, there are also plenty of puns and sight gags to keep everyone, including mom and dad, chuckling as they read this entertaining picture book.

Bugsy Goldwing has Motham City abuzz. The young slugger has a hot bat and his team, the Stinkbugs, have launched a serious assault on the league title. Unfortunately, some dastardly low life has snitched the kid's bat and suddenly he's not able to launch the ball the way he has done before.

With the entire season hanging in the balance, it is up to detective Ace Lacewing to find the missing bat and save the day for the Stinkbugs, who are about to tackle the Leafhoppers in a key contest.

Ace's investigation has him rubbing wings with the likes of Coach Pee Wee Reeks, Fly Cobb, Mickey Mantis, and Big Hoppi - and one of these characters may know what happened to the missing hardwood.

The latest in the Ace Lacewing series, this mystery will have young readers pouring over the pages, looking for clues along with the indomitable buggy sleuth. As usual, there are also plenty of puns and sight gags to keep everyone, including mom and dad, chuckling as they read this entertaining picture book.