Tired of crumbs and castoffs, Maybelle the cockroach is determined to taste the finer things in life, like the Chocolate Surprise cookies that snooty Mrs. Peabody plans to serve at her Ladies Tea. Despite the good advice of her friend Henry the flea about not being seen, Maybelle can’t resist venturing forth from under the refrigerator after a fly named Maurice buzzes into the Peabody kitchen and helps himself to the treats with no regard for the rules. When Ramona the cat spots them both, Maybelle takes cover in a cucumber sandwich and quickly finds herself on a platter in the midst of the refined ladies who have gathered for the party. This follow-up to Maybelle in the Soup (Henry Holt, 2007) continues to charm. Not only do the bugs get the better of humans and animals both, but the pesky fly Maurice redeems himself in Maybelle’s opinion with a heroic streak that saves the day in this chapter book for skilled beginning readers. (Ages 5–8)