Cicada Mania

Dedicated to cicadas, the most amazing insects in the world.

February 28, 2024

Cecily Cicada, a cicada book for kids

Filed under: Books — Dan @ 1:01 am

Update (2/28/2024): looks like there’s a 2024 version of Cecily Cicada: Cecily Cicada: Special Double Brood Edition.

Cecily Cicada 2024

There’s a new version of the book Cecily Cicada by Kita Helmetag Murdock & Patsy Helmetag for 2021. Some of you might remember the original version with the purple cover. Look for the mini-interview at the end of the article.

A delightful book, written by a mother/ daughter before the 17-year cicada emergence of 2004. They wrote it to ease the insect anxiety of their 3-year-old granddaughter/daughter when they learned the cicadas were coming. It tells the miraculous life of a special 17-year cicada named Cecily in an endearing way. Beautifully illustrated and fun. Patsy Helmetag has re-illustrated the original edition for a bright new look for the cicada emergence of 2021.

Cecily Cicada 2021 cover
Here is a Q & A with the authors of the book by Kita Helmetag Murdock & Patsy Helmetag:

Q: What inspired you to write a book about a cicada?

Kita: My mom and I originally wrote Cecily Cicada in 2004, when the Brood X cicadas were about to emerge in Washington, D.C. My then two-year-old daughter was terrified of all bugs, and I was terrified of how she would react when her world was suddenly full of them! We were driving to visit my sister in North Carolina that spring when we had the idea to write a book to ease her fears. Without anything to write on (and without smartphones – times have changed!), we started by writing the first lines in rhyme on the back of a cereal box. By the time we returned home from the trip, we knew we had a book that we wanted to share with all the kids who would be experiencing the cicadas that spring. My mom made the illustrations, and we put the book out into the world. We updated the book for the 2021 Brood X emergence.

Q: Has anyone approached you to make your book into an animated cartoon?

Kita: No, but we wish someone would! It would make a great animated short.

Q: What changes have you made for the 2021 edition of your book?

Patsy: I had so much time during covid that I decided to update all of the illustrations. The new version is brighter and more detailed. We also changed the male singing cicadas to a boy band, from a barbershop quartet, to make them more youthful.

Q: Have you written any other books?
Patsy: I have also written The TransAm Grannies Bicycle Across America and Slothy and Nomi. This past year, during quarantine, I illustrated and co-wrote Squeakestered with my 12-year-old granddaughter.

Kita: I have also written two middle-grade fiction books, Future Flash and Francie’s Fortune.

February 1, 2024

New Brood XIX and XIII Cicada Book by Dr. Gene Kritsky

Filed under: Books | Brood XIII | Brood XIX | Magicicada | Periodical — Dan @ 8:14 am

Cicada researcher and communicator Dr. Gene Kritsky has a new book about Brood XIX and XIII which are both emerging in spring of 2024: A Tale of Two Broods: The 2024 Emergence of Periodical Cicada Broods XIII and XIX. It is available in paperback and Kindle formats.

A Tale of Two Broods: The 2024 Emergence of Periodical Cicada Broods XIII and XIX

Other posts about Dr. Gene Kritsky on this site:

  1. An Interview with Gene Kritsky
  2. Gene Kritsky’s new cicada site and Brood XIV news
  3. Periodical Cicadas: The Brood X Edition by Gene Kritsky
  4. Gene’s App: Cicada Safari app for tracking Magicicada periodical cicadas

January 29, 2024

Cicada Madness, a new cicada-themed fly fishing book

Filed under: Books | Fly Fishing — Dan @ 9:50 pm

Cicadas are a favorite food of fish, so anglers use lures that emulate cicadas. When there is a large emergence aka “hatch” of cicadas, it can drive the fish into a feeding frenzy, which anglers take advantage of.

There’s a new book called Cicada Madness by author Dave Zielinski that focuses on “timing, fishing techniques, and patterns for cracking the code of epic emergences”. The book features images by myself, Roy Troutman, and others. The book is 164 pages long and features 39 pages of fly patterns.

cicada madness

November 8, 2023

Cicadapocalypse a graphic novel about periodical cicadas by Roger McMullan

Filed under: Books | Magicicada | Periodical — Dan @ 11:32 pm

Roger McMullan has a new graphic novel about periodical cicadas called Cicadapocalypse. You can obtain a copy from Roger’s online store.

As I understand it, “the book is intended as an introduction to periodical cicadas for curious kids during a cicada emergence by creating a fictional narrative around the cicadas rather than hitting them over the head with facts”. A cicada emergence through the eyes of some shocked and surprised cartoon squirrels.

It looks fun to me.

cicadapocalypse

October 5, 2022

Searching for Cicadas by Lesley Gibbes and Judy Watson

Filed under: Australia | Books — Dan @ 7:13 pm

Sometimes you can judge a book by its cover. This one is fantastic! Searching for Cicadas by Lesley Gibbes (author) and Judy Watson (illustrator) tells the story of a grandparent and grandchild and their love of searching for and listing to cicadas. The book is set in Australia and features excellent illustrations of Australian species like Double Drummers, Floury Bakers, and Green Grocers. If you’re a library in the New South Wales area or a parent with a kid who loves cicadas, you should own this book. I live in the United States, and I had to import it. Worth every penny. The illustration is accurate and stylish and unique — a fantastic color palate.

The front cover:
Searching for Cicadas

Inside illustrations:

November 29, 2021

2021 Cicada Gift Guide

Filed under: Books — Dan @ 12:50 pm

No matter what you celebrate — Christmas, Hanukkah, birthdays, graduations, Treat Yourself Day — cicada-related items are a great gift! At the end of 2021, I’m sharing cicada gift-related ideas, here and on social media. Check back for more tips.

The Season of the Cicadas by Les Daniels

The Season of Cicadas is the best general book about North American cicadas in print.

Season of the Cicadas

A photo guide to common cicadas of the Greater Sydney region by Nathan Emery

This is the best book about cicadas found in Australia in print. Get it from this website.

A photo guide to common cicadas of the Greater Sydney region

Cicadas of New Zealand by Olly Hills

This is the only book about the cicadas of New Zealand that I know of. Get it from this website.

Cicadas of New Zealand

Headbone Brood X Notebook

Many will remember the Brood X cicada emergence. How about a souvenir of the emergence and a useful notebook? Check out headbone’s Brood X notebook.

Headbone

Sue Fink’s Cicada Suite

Sue Fink’s “Cicada Suite” features 2 songs about cicadas on an adorable cicada-shaped flash drive. Irresistible!

Sue Fink

Cicadas!: Strange and Wonderful by Laurence Pringle. This book is good for kids, well-illustrated, and covers annual cicadas so it’s good any year.

Cicadas Strange and Wonderful by Laurence Pringle illustrated by Meryl Henderson

Cecily Cicada: 2021 Edition by Kita Helmetag Murdock and Patsy Helmetag

Cecily Cicada is a fictional story for kids about a cicada named Cecily. It is a perennial favorite.

Cecily Cicada 2021 cover

Each day I’ll add more gift ideas here.

May 16, 2021

Cicada Symphony Book

Filed under: Books — Dan @ 10:04 pm

Just in time for Brood X, here’s another cicada book for kids: Cicada Symphony by Lisa Kobman.

I haven’t read the book, so I cannot give my opinion. Lisa says she consulted with Gene Kritsky when writing the book.

Here are some details from Amazon.com:

This book is the perfect learning tool for teaching children about cicadas. It explains the complicated and fascinating life cycle of the 17-year cicada (Brood X) in a way a preschooler and elementary-aged child can understand and connect with. Children will be drawn in by the beautiful, vivid illustrations, humor, and compelling storyline. The rhyming language should help ease anxiety about these amazing bugs and could even inspire a sense of wonder and excitement about cicadas for children and adults alike. It is the perfect addition to your science/nature collection. Don’t be surprised if after reading this book, readers of all ages head outside to check out the cicadas!

Cicada Symphony

May 10, 2021

The Cicada Olympics: Engaging Kids in Live Insect Activities

Filed under: Books | Community Science — Dan @ 10:49 am

Hey! There’s a new cicada book out for Kids. Looks fun. The Cicada Olympics: Engaging Kids in Live Insect Activities. by Cynthia ‘Cindy’ Smith, Ph.D. & Richard Grover. It is available on Kindle or Paperback. 62 pages.

Description of the book:

This book, by Cindy Smith, Ph.D. and Richard Groover, Ph.D., will equip you with age-appropriate information to make this a fun learning opportunity for your children. The authors have made the learning activities streamlined and easy to implement for individuals and groups. Within these pages, you’ll find: 13 fun cicada activities with instructions and materials list, parent and volunteer information, cicada jokes, pictures, and online resources

Cicada Olympics

April 17, 2021

New Book: The Cicadas Are Coming!: Invasion of the Periodical Cicadas!

Filed under: Books — Dan @ 10:39 am

A new photo-illustrated periodical cicada book for kids will be available on April 26th: The Cicadas Are Coming!: Invasion of the Periodical Cicadas! by Doug Wechsler. I haven’t see it yet, but it looks promising.

It’s available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Description:

When a million bugs come out of the ground at once, children pay attention. Periodical cicadas don’t disappoint. Almost every animal in the area fills its stomach. Then after a month the feast and the cacophony suddenly stops.

This book is about one of the oddest insect life cycles on the planet the periodical or 17-year cicada.

The beautiful photographs and engaging text bring to life every aspect of this insect’s life from a unique view of the eggs inside a twig, to its transformation to the noisiest insect around. Author Doug Wechsler, once again, brings the natural world into focus for children.

Cicadas are Coming

April 5, 2021

Buzzy and the Little Critters: A Curious Tale of a Cicada Invasion

Filed under: Books — Dan @ 8:04 pm

Got another kids book about cicadas:

Buzzy and the Little Critters: A Curious Tale of a Cicada Invasion by Kenton Hill. It’s on Amazon.com and other book stores.

It is a story about a boy, a girl, a grandpa (who is an entomologist), thousands of cicadas, and lots of other hungry critters. Along with the fun story (including an exciting dream scene) are several pages of scientific information in kid language to help them understand and appreciate these amazing insects.

Buzzy and the Little Critters: A Curious Tale of a Cicada Invasion

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Cicada T-shirts