(fantasy, fiction, young adult, primary school age)This sweet little book reminded me of a vintage era with it's small size and intricate pencil detail pictures tucked in among the pages. The book felt cozy in my hands. The story follows Beetle, who has come to live in Mushroom Center after a day of weary travel. He and the other insect inhabitants live a close and selfless existence with each other, getting together for afternoon tea and other pleasantries. One day a human gathering of a picnic destroys their tranquility with their remains of a good party. Beetle becomes the spearhead of reconstruction for the little village, as they set themselves to bring Mushroom Center back to life, better than before. Children will undoubtedly delight in the imaginative text that personifies the little critters of the center and in the delightful descriptive text used to describe how they employ the picnic remains. A good topic to touch upon with students after this book is enviromental awareness. Projects could be making compost or an entymology study. You could even take a field trip to a nearby park or field and have them clean up garbage to better the community. ( )