Lucy Ladybug

PreS-K—Children appreciate repetition and routine, and when these themes are nestled in a sweet story about friendship and self-discovery that also inserts counting possibilities, a review of colors, and the chance to travel through the seasons, an engaging as well as informative debut picture book has been created. Lucy Ladybug wants to be like the other ladybugs, but she has no black spots. Lonely and sad, she leaves the other ladybugs behind, but as she wanders alone, in each season she encounters a different creature with an alliterative name (Fred Frog, Carla Caterpillar, Felicity Fish, and Bella Bird) who is willing to share a colorful spot with Lucy and who makes her feel better about herself. Each creature points out one feature that makes Lucy special and repeats two empowering phrases that every child needs to hear: YOU are beautiful too and I wish I could be like you. Reminiscent of David McKee's Elmer and Marcus Pfister's The Rainbow Fish, the tale ends with a large, colorful foldout that contains a message of diversity and acceptance.