SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Pearl's & Ruby's
  • Politics in Practice
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • *Best New Books*
    • Annual Best Lists
  • Reviews
    • One Star Review
    • Nonfiction
    • Toon Reviews
  • Articles
    • Authors
    • Link Du Jour
  • Covers
    • Covering the Newbery
    • Cover Curiosity
    • Unfortunate Covers
  • News
    • Books on Film
    • Morning Notes
  • Newsletter

March 24, 2009 by Travis Jonker

Book Review: Creepy Crawly Crime (Joey Fly, Private Eye #1)

March 24, 2009 by Travis Jonker   1 comments

joeyflycov1

Creepy Crawly Crime (Joey Fly, Private Eye #1)
By Aaron Reynolds
Illustrated by Neil Numberman
Henry Holt
ISBN: 9780805082425
$16.95
Grades 2-4
In Stores April 14, 2009

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Just ask A Tribe Called Quest, who’s 1993 jazz-inspired The Low End Theory is lauded as a hip-hop masterpiece – paying tribute can be a successful route to take. New series Joey Fly, Private Eye attempts to follow suit. A graphic novel detective story that pays homage to (and spoofs) classic crime tales at every turn, Creepy Crawly Crime is made for young readers who enjoy their noir with a heavy dose of levity.

Joey Fly is a detective that’s seen it all. Having solved crimes of all shapes and sizes, there isn’t much that surprises the private eye. When a wet behind the ears scorpion named Sammy Stingtail comes on the scene, asking to be the detective’s assistant, Fly takes on the youngster and gets more than he bargained for. Soon an investigation is afoot (the theft of a diamond pencil box), and Sammy proves to be more of a hindrance than a help. It’s a difficult assignment for Joey Fly, who must solve a crime of jealousy and keep his new assistant from ruining everything.

You’ve gotta admit – the author certainly picks a style and runs with it here. Puns, similes, and metaphors are everywhere. Fools are “one ant short of a picnic”. Crime inhabits the city “like a one-winged fly on a fifty-cent swatter”. Things are more tense “than an ally cat at a flea market”. I could go on. Some work well, others induce some head scratching. The overall success of this style will depend on who’s reading.

The pen and ink illustrations ably move the story along. When it’s dark, various shades of blue are used to set the mood. When Joey Fly and Sammy Stingtail are out in the sun, sepia tones are used. This limited color palate works well and enhances the “classic crime story” atmosphere.

The world created is well-realized. Elements of the outdoors (trees, plants, swampland, etc.) are incorporated into an urban setting to create a city inhabited entirely by insects.The 8×10 size and uncomplicated panel layouts make for smooth reading.

An encouraging start to a new series. Many young readers will welcome Creepy Crawly Crime with open arms.

Find this book at your local library with WorldCat.

Filed under: Reviews

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments

About Travis Jonker

Travis Jonker is an elementary school librarian in Michigan. He writes reviews (and the occasional article or two) for School Library Journal and is a member of the 2014 Caldecott committee. You can email Travis at scopenotes@gmail.com, or follow him on Twitter: @100scopenotes.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

A Fuse #8 Production

Happy Juneteeth! Celebrate in Style with SO MANY YEARS and a Discussion with Anne Wynter and Jerome Pumphrey

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Pacheco and the Witch of the Mountain | This Week’s Comics

by Lori Henderson

Heavy Medal

Our Mock Newbery List is Up to 52 Titles

by Steven Engelfried

Politics in Practice

When Book Bans are a Form of Discrimination, What is the Path to Justice?

by John Chrastka

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Teen MakerSpace: DIY Stickers, High Tech

by Karen Jensen, MLS

The Yarn

How Colby Sharp Celebrates Reading with Students

by Colby Sharp

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

Life During Wartime: 16 Untold World War II Stories | Great Books

9 Titles to Learn About Juneteenth

4 Books for the 4th (July 4th, That Is!)

More Than 50 Standout Titles! | Starred Reviews, June 2025

SLJ Opens Poll, Asking Readers to Name the Best Books of the Past 25 Years

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. tanie t?umacz angielskiego w katowicach says

    December 30, 2015 at 9:42 am

    wzorowe rzetelne polecam katowice dobre

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

  • Author/Illustrator Blogs

    • Erin Stead Illustration
    • Hey, Rabbit!
    • James Preller's Blog
    • MATTHEWCORDELLBLOGS
    • Mo Willems Doodles
    • The Scop
  • Book Blogs I Like

    • A Book and a Hug
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • A Kids Book a Day
    • A Year of Reading
    • Abby (the) Librarian
    • Awful Library Books
    • Becky’s Book Reviews
    • Better Book Titles
    • Book-A-Day Almanac
    • Bookends
    • books4yourkids.com
    • bookshelves of doom
    • Bottom Shelf Books
    • Calling Caldecott
    • Caustic Cover Critic
    • Chad C. Beckerman
    • Charlotte’s Library
    • Cheryl Rainfield
    • Chicken Spaghetti
    • CHILDREN’S ILLUSTRATION
    • Collecting Children’s Books
    • Cybils
    • EarlyWord
    • educating alice
    • Finding Wonderland
    • For Those About to Mock
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Good Show Sir
    • GottaBook
    • Great Kid Books
    • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
    • Hi Miss Julie!
    • Jen Robinson’s Book Page
    • Kidsmomo
    • Maria T. Middleton Design
    • Nerdy Book Club
    • Neverending Search
    • Nine Kinds of Pie
    • One Book, Two Books, Old Books, New Books
    • Out of the Box
    • Oz and Ends
    • PlanetEsme
    • Read Roger
    • Reading Rants!
    • Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
    • sharpread
    • ShelfTalker
    • so tomorrow
    • The Children's Book Review
    • The Miss Rumphius Effect
    • Uncovered Cover Art
    • Waking Brain Cells
    • Watch. Connect. Read.
  • Library Blogs

    • ALSC Blog
    • Blue Skunk Blog
    • librarian.net
    • LISNews
    • Stephen's Lighthouse
    • Tame The Web: Libraries and Technology
    • Tame The Web: Libraries and Technology
    • Unshelved
  • Follow This Blog

    Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    Primary Sidebar

    • News & Features
    • Reviews+
    • Technology
    • School Libraries
    • Public Libraries
    • Blogs
    • Classroom
    • Diversity
    • People
    • Job Zone

    Reviews+

    • Book Lists
    • Best Books 2024
    • 2024 Stars So Far
    • Media
    • Reference
    • Series Made Simple
    • Tech
    • Review for SLJ
    • Review Submissions

    SLJ Blog Network

    • 100 Scope Notes
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Heavy Medal
    • Pearls & Rubys
    • Politics in Practice
    • Teen Librarian Toolbox
    • The Yarn

    Resources

    • Reasons to Love Libraries
    • 2025 Youth Media Awards
    • Defending the Canon:SLJ & NCTE Review 15 Banned Classics
    • Refreshing the Canon Booklist
    • School Librarian of the Year
    • Read Free Poster
    • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
    • Research
    • White Papers / Case Studies

    Events & PD

    • In-Person Events
    • Online Courses
    • Virtual Events
    • Webcasts
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe
    • Media Inquiries
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Content Submissions
    • Data Privacy
    • Terms of Use
    • Terms of Sale
    • FAQs
    • Diversity Policy
    • Careers at MSI


    COPYRIGHT © 2025


    COPYRIGHT © 2025