"Omnibombulator"– about a small beetle with a big name
Dick King-Smith
1996, Young Corgie
This is the fabulous story of a very small beetle. In the hope of making their small son feel important, the beetle’s parents give him a very important-sounding name, Omnibombulator. His brothers and sisters still ignore him and when his parents are eaten by a hungry bird, the little beetle decides to make his own way in the world.
On his journey Omnibobulator brushes several times with death. He meets a very small female beetle who doesn’t even have a name. She is impressed by Omnibombulator’s courage and even more impressed by his name. Suddenly, Omnibombulator realises how useful it is to be very small; he learns to look on the bright side and be happy with himself.
Dick King-Smith tells this story with humour and pathos. Children will support the brave little hero to the end, and may even recognise the allegory of their own struggle to be appreciated. This is a short book from a well-loved author who specialises in stories about animals. Omnibombulator is written in short sentences, with few words per page, and will hold the interest of newly confident readers. The concise text and detailed illustrations can also be used for discussions on areas related to the plot: garden birds, insects, flowers etc. It provides a means of introducing English-learners to new vocabulary. Omnibombulator is recommended for native English speakers of 7 years and up. It can be used by teachers with students in their second year of learning English. A red question set for this book is available on Antolin.
