When the Air Sang - by Laura Bontje (Hardcover)

About the Book

A gorgeous picture book about a young insect enthusiast who learns about the ever-mysterious cicada and how our curiosity about nature never truly goes away. Annie is tired of waiting for the cicadas to finally appear: every day, they show hints of their upcoming arrival, but to her disappointment, they seem to be taking their sweet time coming out. As Annie's anticipation builds to bursting, she is joined first by her great-grandmother, then her grandmother, then her mother-each of whom has her own cicada story to tell. When the magnificent insects finally appear and sing their incredible songs, Annie realizes some things are worth the wait. This lovely picture book is perfect for amateur bug lovers and aspiring entomologists alike: alongside debut illustrator Sarah Whang's stunning art, author Laura Bontje turns an ordinary backyard into a magical world filled with wonder. Readers will be swept away by their own curiosity as they explore all the fascinating things about nature just outside our doors. Informative, expert-reviewed backmatter on cicadas provide further context on these fascinating creatures.

Book Synopsis

A gorgeous picture book about a young insect enthusiast who learns about the ever-mysterious cicada and how our curiosity about nature never truly goes away.

Annie is tired of waiting for the cicadas to finally appear: every day, they show hints of their upcoming arrival, but to her disappointment, they seem to be taking their sweet time coming out. As Annie's anticipation builds to bursting, she is joined first by her great-grandmother, then her grandmother, then her mother--each of whom has her own cicada story to tell. When the magnificent insects finally appear and sing their incredible songs, Annie realizes some things are worth the wait.

This lovely picture book is perfect for amateur bug lovers and aspiring entomologists alike: alongside debut illustrator Sarah Whang's stunning art, author Laura Bontje turns an ordinary backyard into a magical world filled with wonder. Readers will be swept away by their own curiosity as they explore all the fascinating things about nature just outside our doors. Informative, expert-reviewed backmatter on cicadas provide further context on these fascinating creatures.

Review Quotes

"The intergenerational connection between Annie and her relatives pairs with the intermittent arrival of the cicadas, a symbol of the passage of time that is beautifully highlighted in the composition."

--The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, 04/25

"An appealing demonstration of the rhythms of the natural world." --Kirkus Reviews, 02/01/25

About the Author

LAURA BONTJE is an author and freelance book editor. Raised in Calgary, she now lives with her husband, kids, and cat in London, Ontario.

SARAH WHANG is a Korean-Canadian illustrator and comic artist based in Toronto. She loves to mix texture and color to create magical yet cozy scenes. This is her first picture book.