Footy Pajamas Blog

If you and your kids thought Ladybug Girl was a good book (if you haven’t read it, you should), you’re going to love Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy, by David Soman and Jacky Davis. Lulu the superhero Ladybug Girl is off to the playground with her mom and dog Bingo. Lulu finds her friend Sam digging in the sandbox and asks him to play. He suggests the sand, she doesn’t like that idea. She suggests the monkey bars. He doesn’t like that idea. And on it goes. Frustration ensues until Lulu decides she wants to play Ladybug Girl and invites Sam to join her. Sam’s interest is piqued at the idea of playing superheroes and the two friends dash about the playground as Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy, rescuing all from the imagined terrors of the playground. Two friends join them and the Bug Squad is formed.

The Ladybug Girl books are wonderful at showing the richness of a child’s imagination. A crack in the sidewalk becomes a canyon. Swings become wings and the bugs are soon flying so high they can almost touch the clouds. Children will want to sink into Lulu’s world and join the bug squad. Adults will adore the in-moment writing and the gentle lessons taught.

And, let’s not forget the fine illustrations. Full of color and light, they perfectly complement the story. The red of Lulu’s costume pops on every page, making her the center of the action. Emotion is expertly expressed, with Lulu and Sam (and even Bingo the dog), coming to life with happiness, effort, concentration, frustration, enticement, questioning, fear, commitment and joy.

Soman and Davis are truly gifted. We bought Ladybug Girl a few years ago and still love it. I’m sure we’ll feel the same way about Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy.

Ages: 3+

(To return to the Footy Pajamas store to shop for pajamas, click here.)