While exterminating a government research facility, young Vinny Mazola accidentally shrinks himself down to the size of a bug with his brand new Bug Whacker 3000. This unfortunate mishap sends Vinny on the adventure of a lifetime, into a world of squabbling insects, all ruled by a controlling, yet somewhat inept, Tarantula Horde. "Vinny the Bug Man" follows the unbefitting human as he attempts to adapt to his new surroundings and learns to control his eccentric sense of humor.

Underwater pirate bugs, black widow spider bikers and talking plants and flowers are just a few of the jovial, mutated creatures Vinny meets along his journey. After befriending Lester the Jester, an exiled court aphid clown, Vinny learns that the bugs desperately want to break free from the tarantulas' control, but all the petty infighting among the different insects makes any kind of cohesive overthrow effort nearly impossible.

Together with Lester and a rebellious ladybug princess, Vinny helps the bugs overcome their differences and unite against the Tarantula Horde. "Vinny the Bug Man" is intended for ages 7 to 13. The graphic novel format allows children to follow the story like a comic book, so that even beginner readers can understand the plot, despite some of the big words included for the higher reading levels.    

"Vinny the Bug Man" is an imaginative, adventure-packed cartoon story that teaches children the importance of setting differences aside to work as a team. Kids who just can't get enough of Vinny and his whimsical insect world can check out the book's Web site, www.bugem.com, which extends the adventure with a variety of fun-filled, interactive games and activities.

About the Author
Chet Spiewak resides in Franklin Park, Ill. He is a self-taught 3-D artist, specializing in the transformation of original cartoon rendered characters. He is also the author of "An Ornament's Tale" and is working on two new books for the "Vinny the Bug Man" series.