Barnaby the Bedbug Detective

K-Gr 2—Stier visits a timely subject in this informational picture book. Barnaby is an exuberant shelter dog, finally adopted by Martha, who thinks he'd make a perfect bedbug sniffer. They both attend training, and the pup proves to be an apt pupil. After graduating, they visit a hotel, cinema, college dorm, and various other places before going to a family's home. While there, Barnaby finds bedbugs, making the little girl upset. He is distraught at making her unhappy until her brother tells him that he is a hero. Anthropomorphism aside, there is plenty of useful information here, including endpapers with bedbug facts, and tips for preventing infestation, and how to find evidence of bedbugs. The friendly illustrations dispel some of the misconceptions about bedbugs (they are not attracted to dirty homes).—B. Allison Gray, Goleta Public Library, CA