
For three-and-a-half years, my husband and I lived aboard our boat and cruised many places in the Mediterranean Sea. Although we were living The Dream, I missed my young granddaughter very much. Telephone communication was sometimes difficult so in order to connect with her, I sent my stories based upon our travels. When I heard the constant "chirps" of the cicadas at Sainte-Marguerite Island, just off the coast of Cannes in France, I was inspired to write this story.
This book is dedicated, with love, to my Granddaughter, Emma.

FACTS ABOUT CICADAS
(Pronounced "si-KAY-da" or "si-KAH-da")
A cicada is an insect, or "bug," that has a body in three parts: a head, a thorax, and an abdomen.
Cicadas sing when the air temperature is at least 77 degrees.
When many cicadas sing together, it sounds like a hiss.
Only the male cicada sings to attract a female cicada.
He makes the sound by vibrating his abdomen at 500 times a second.
When the female hears the sound, she joins him in a tree.
They can live 2 to 17 years underground and will crawl out in the spring.
Billions of cicadas live in the United States and other parts of the world, except Antarctica.
Early one morning Vema went outside to play.
"What shall I do?" Vema asked herself. "I know! I'll climb a tree!"
Up, up, up, she went. Higher and higher.
Vema's mom looked for her. She called, "Where are you, Vema?"
Vema didn't answer.
Again, Mom called, "Where are you, Vema?"
At last Vema said, "Here I am! I'm up in the tree!"
As Vema sat in the tree, she saw a bug. It had big, red eyes.
"Mom, Mom! I found a bug! Will you help me catch it?"
So Mom put the bug into a jar. She filled the jar with twigs and grass and punched holes in the lid so it could breathe.
Vema climbed down from the tree and put the jar on the table.
She looked at the bug and the bug looked at her.

Mom said, "I have a book about a bug. Would you like me to read it?"
"Oh, yes!" said Vema. "Please tell me the story!"
"Once upon a time there was a bug named Charlie. He was shiny and black with golden wings and big, red eyes. He was an insect called a cicada. He played in a big tree with many friends. On sunny days his friends sang in the tree. 'Chirp, chirp, chirpity, chirp,' sang the cicadas. They were happy. They liked to make chirpity sounds.

FACTS ABOUT
PRAYING MANTISES
They look like they're praying but they're trying to catch something to eat.
Their bodies look like dead leaves or twigs.
They can be 1/2 inch or 7 inches long.
They are found all over the world.
Their heads can look backwards.
They are quick and can catch flies easily.
Charlie was embarrassed.
He tried and tried but he could not chirp.
"Oh, no! I have a problem!" he said to his friends.
"I must ask Praying Mantis to teach me to chirp."
And away he flew to ask him.
"Hello, Praying Mantis. Can you please teach me to chirp?"
"Bless you, Charlie." said Praying Mantis.
"I'm sorry I can't help you but I will pray for you."
FACTS ABOUT STINK BUGS
When a stink bug is frightened,
it sprays a liquid.
Female stink bugs love the bad smell.
Some eat only plants and
can make farmers mad.
Some eat other insects and
can make farmers happy.
Babies are called nymphs
and don't have wings.
They hibernate, or sleep,
during the winter.

Charlie was discouraged.
"I will go ask Stink Bug if he can help me," said Charlie.
"Phew! You stink!" Charlie said as he held his nose.
"Pffffft. Oops!" said Stinky. "May I help you?"
"Well," said Charlie, "Can you teach me to chirp?"
"Sorry, but I don't know how to teach you." answered Stinky.

FACTS ABOUT WATER BUGS
Most live in fresh water.
They store air under their wings so they can breathe underwater for a long time.
Some eat algae and some eat fish.
Some can walk on water; some can fly.
They are 2 to 4 inches long and can bite.
Males make vibrations, or waves, in the water to attract females.
Some males carry the females' eggs and, if hungry, they will eat them.
Charlie was upset!
"This is terrible!" exclaimed Charlie. "Maybe Water Bug can help me!"
So Charlie flew to the lake. He put on his swimming gear and dove in. There was Water Bug pounding on his drum: bonga, bing, be-bang-a-bop.
"Hey, Charlie. What's happening?" asked Water Bug.
"Gurgle, gurgle." Charlie was having trouble speaking under water.
"Please teach me to chirp!" gulped Charlie.
"Sorry," said Water Bug. "I can't teach now because I don't know how."
Charlie ran out of breath, popped up to the surface, and flew away.

FACTS ABOUT DRAGONFLIES
They have been around over 250 million years.
As they grow, they molt, or shed their skin,
9 to 17 times.
A young dragonfly, or nymph, breathes out of it's bottom which pushes it through the water.
They can move up, down, backwards, or hover
like a helicopter.
They can fly up to 30 miles per hour.
They use their wings as solar panels to keep warm in the winter or cool in the summer.
Charlie was frustrated!
As he landed in a field of daisies, he saw Dragonfly and yelled,
"Help! Help! Please teach me to chirp!"
Dragonfly was in a hurry and quickly flew away.

Charlie was angry!
He grumbled, "Praying Mantis can't teach me!
Stink Bug can't teach me!
Water Bug can't teach me!
Dragon Fly can't teach me!
How can I learn to chirp if no one will teach me?"
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For three-and-a-half years, my husband and I lived aboard our boat and cruised many places in the Mediterranean Sea. Although we were living The Dream, I missed my young granddaughter very much. Telephone communication was sometimes difficult so in order to connect with her, I sent my stories based upon our travels. When I heard the constant "chirps" of the cicadas at Sainte-Marguerite Island, just off the coast of Cannes in France, I was inspired to write this story.
This book is dedicated, with love, to my Granddaughter, Emma.

FACTS ABOUT CICADAS
(Pronounced "si-KAY-da" or "si-KAH-da")
A cicada is an insect, or "bug," that has a body in three parts: a head, a thorax, and an abdomen.
Cicadas sing when the air temperature is at least 77 degrees.
When many cicadas sing together, it sounds like a hiss.
Only the male cicada sings to attract a female cicada.
He makes the sound by vibrating his abdomen at 500 times a second.
When the female hears the sound, she joins him in a tree.
They can live 2 to 17 years underground and will crawl out in the spring.
Billions of cicadas live in the United States and other parts of the world, except Antarctica.
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