A strong four stars for this, even if it skirts the real life background to this until the last minute, and spins off into fantasy. It's about a lovely young lass with the habit of looking at bugs all her days – but when a picnic with her brother and her mother and, er, her other mother, just because ticky boxes etc, is curtailed, she decides to pack up a lot of tiny critters and house them in her bedroom. The drama peaks when a large troupe of relatives turn up for a dinner party – and the bugs are all on the loose.

So yes, this could have stuck with a real-life instance of a true bug-loving female, such as the one mentioned right at the last gasp here, but this takes us purely through the entertainment route. And it still does that very well, it has to be said – the art is excellent, and the rhyming text really a pleasure, too. After "A Dress With Pockets", this seems to suggest these creators can do this in their sleep – nailing an entertainment to show the merits for young girls in being different. Certainly this is to a standard many would have to resort to dreaming of...

Awwww!!! This gorgeous, gorgeous picture book is such a delight.

The story, Evie’s joy in bugs, the great bug escape, the way Great Gran helps to encourage her passion…. everything feels so spot on and relatable. We love the warmth and joy that sparkles in the rhyme, making this the perfect summer read after a day out exploring in the garden or further afield.

The illustrations are of course stunning, and have a wonderful way of making you feel included in the story. There’s a magical quality to the colour palette that’s somehow fresh and outdoorsy, yet comforting and homely too.

We absolutely love The Girl Who LOVES bugs by Lily Murray and illustrated by Jenny Løvlie – it’s one of those picture books that we’ll never forget.

I really loved the art work and how the girl is depicted. I really like the concept of the fact it makes it inviting for girls who do love bugs and don't get enough representation. I love finding books like this for children.

This was a lovely book. The colours and illustration are absolutely beautiful and very eye catching. I read this with my 4 and 5 year old little girls and they both loved it. Neither of them likes bugs but when I read the story they found it very funny that the bugs escapes. I think it has a lovely concept of nature . Seeing Evie being a child and being in awe of the bugs. We see through her eyes.. The only thing I found was the story was a bit long and and I did find both my girls getting restless midway through the book.
But Overall I'd highly recommend this book.

What a lovely inspiring book for young girls. This is based on the true story of Evelyn Cheesman who was the first female curator of the insect house at London zoo. I also have a daughter who was always fascinated by insects and wildlife of all sorts, and sometimes didn’t feel like she fitted into the stereotype of what little girls should be. This tells the story of Evie who loves insects and wants them to be her pets and how her relationship with her rather stern grandmother changes when they find they have a shared interest. . The illustrations are detailed and charming. I also particularly liked the extra sections at the end of the story which give suggestions of how to build cheap bugs houses from readily available, sustainable sources and also told the story of the real ‘Evie’ .