Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears
By Verna Aardema
The Story
A mosquito tells a small lie to an iguana, setting off a chain reaction of animal misunderstandings that spreads through the jungle with disastrous consequences — and explains a habit mosquitoes have to this day.
Why It's Special
For the kid who loves asking 'but why?' about everything, this is a whole story built to answer one silly, satisfying question.
- Big idea: Small actions ripple outward — one little lie can travel farther than anyone expects.
- Vibes: Rhythmic, dramatic, and richly patterned, with a folktale cadence that begs to be read aloud.
Perfect For Kids Who
- enjoy animal folktales with a reason behind them
- love repetitive, rhythmic language and sound words
- are working on understanding cause and effect
- respond well to bold, patterned illustrations
Ask Your Little Reader
- Story & problem-solving: What did Mosquito say to Iguana that started all the trouble?
- Cause & effect: Can you retrace how one animal's reaction led to the next disaster in the jungle?
- Real-life connection: Have you ever told a small fib that turned into a bigger problem than you expected?
- Imagination: Why do you think mosquitoes still buzz in people's ears today?
- Art & illustration: What's your favorite animal picture in this book, and why?
