Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears by Verna Aardema – Pictures by Leo and Diane Dillon

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. The text, a West African tale, is perfectly written, and the illustrations are superb. I have read this book to groups many times, and I have used the art in the book to teach art to all ages. Certainly, Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears is a must-read for Black History Month, but beyond that, it is a perfect book all year long.

One morning a mosquito saw an iguana drinking at a waterhole. The mosquito said, ‘Iguana, you will never believe what I saw yesterday.’

“‘Try me,’ said the iguana,'” and that is how a perfect picture book begins.