When the Air Sang

"A marvelous, magical story." —David Suzuki, Grandfather

A gorgeous picture book about a young insect enthusiast who learns about the ever-mysterious cicada and how our curiosity about nature never truly goes away.

Annie is tired of waiting for the cicadas to finally appear: every day, they show hints of their upcoming arrival, but to her disappointment, they seem to be taking their sweet time coming out. As Annie’s anticipation builds to bursting, she is joined first by her great-grandmother, then her grandmother, then her mother—each of whom has her own cicada story to tell. When the magnificent insects finally appear and sing their incredible songs, Annie realizes some things are worth the wait.

This lovely picture book is perfect for amateur bug lovers and aspiring entomologists alike: alongside debut illustrator Sarah Whang’s stunning art, author Laura Bontje turns an ordinary backyard into a magical world filled with wonder. Readers will be swept away by their own curiosity as they explore all the fascinating things about nature just outside our doors. Informative, expert-reviewed backmatter on cicadas provide further context on these fascinating creatures.

• BUG LOVE: For bug lovers but also to-become bug lovers: positivity and wonderment about insects shine on every page. Interest in cicadas will likely grow after the rare double-brood event in 2024, and cover is great for spring displays
• FAMILY FOCUS: Intergenerational story makes it appealing for homes with multiple generations living in one household
• FULL OF FACTS: Key facts about cicadas throughout the story and also in the backmatter
• VIBRANT ILLUSTRATIONS: Beautiful writing and illustrations feature regionally specific flora and fauna, in addition to detailed illustrations on cicadas
• STEAM AND SEL CONNECTIONS: This book features themes about curiosity about nature and science, and the memories and knowledge we hold and pass onto future generations
• EDUCATOR RESOURCES: Free resources will be available for download at AnnickPress.com, and in Edelweiss.
• LEVELING INFO: F-P Guided Code: K - Grade Two II. Lexile Code: Adult Directed 600 L