The third installment in the Bug Boys series holds true to everything that made its prequels great d they are great th another series of episodic adventures that see best buds Rhino-B and Stag-B venturing out from their home in Bug Village to explore and interrogate the external world beyond, as well as their internal selves. This time around, they have a sleepover, visit the Coastal Kingdom, discover an ancient love letter, compete in a cooking contest, learn about cicada life, go on an epic hike, and make comics. After baking bread inspires them to learn about the mind-blowing world of microbes, they are moved to consider bigger matters: "It feels like every question we ask is, like, two steps away from being about the very nature of life." And that is the essence of what makes these books special. There is adventure, exploration, conflict, and unwavering friendship, but every tale showcases the importance of curiosity and the power of keeping an open heart and an open mind. These boys are still the best.

Two beetle BFFs return for more adventures in nature.In this third graphic installment, best beetle buds Rhino-B and Stag-B explore the wondrous world around them in nine bite-sized vignettes. In "Love Letter," the duo finds an intriguing canister embedded amid tree roots and, inside, a richly imagined missive from its mysterious author, Scorpio. They realize that the letter may have never found its reader but in a poignant moment, relish the marvel of a fanciful daydream. In "The Cooking Competition," the pair face off, each determined to win the Bug Village cooking contest. When their desire to win eclipses the meaning of the event, the bugs learn that collaboration can outweigh competition. "The Mountain Journey" takes readers along on an arduous hike with the beetles as an argument brews. Once the friends discuss their feelings, they can quietly contemplate and enjoy the natural beauty around them. Knetzger's simply wrought tales use straightforward naming conventions (most of the insects are named for their species) alongside an uncomplicated full-color palette of muted, dreamy tones, emphasizing the evocative nature and thematic focus of each piece. These introspective tales (which can be read nonlinearly) are slowly and deliberately paced, not demanding that readers rush; those who appreciate more pensive, meditative tales will find much to savor here.A winsome fantasy bubbling with gentle whimsy. (bonus comic, extra art, cover sketches) (Graphic fantasy. 8-12)