The true story behind it
Where our son is growing up there aren’t many ladybirds, so he had never really seen one. Where I grew up they were everywhere, and I remember catching them in little bottles as a boy. One day he spotted one flying in those looping, swirling circles and asked me if it was a beetle. I told him it wasn’t, just a different little insect that looked like one, and that small moment became the seed for this book. I also wanted to gently introduce him to the idea of the Olympic Games and spark a little love of sport, so Lila the ladybird became a leaf-surfing athlete chasing her big trick.
About this book
Lila the Ladybird is part of Magical Tales of Kitty & Dino, a series of 43 gentle bedtime stories. In every one, Kitty, a red cat who can bend the wind and water, and Dino, a green dinosaur who grows plants out of nothing, help a new animal friend through a small problem, with a quiet lesson coming along for the ride. Like all of them, this story was written by Asanga Wijeratne for his own son, and it is made for ages 3 to 8.
What happens in the story
The Bug Olympics start tomorrow, and Lila the ladybird is in the leaf-surfing contest. Riders surf a leaf down the stream, jump at the waterfall’s edge, and spin three times before they land. That’s the Triple Twist. But Lila had a bad crash while training, and now she freezes in the air every time she tries it.
Kitty and Dino skip the pep talk and make practice safer instead. Dino grows soft, bouncy moss along the banks and floating seed-pod cushions to catch her. Kitty blows a gentle wind to help her stay up. They start easy and go a little harder each time.
By sunset Lila can do two spins without fear. Kitty has one more idea for the third, a special spin wind at the top of the jump. Soon Lila lands it on her own, just in time for the big day at the Big Waterfall.
Looking for a children’s book about ladybugs?
Some families say ladybird and some say ladybug. Either way, Lila is the little red one with black spots, and she happens to be a very good leaf-surfer.
Bug-loving kids will enjoy her, but the real reason to read it is the feeling underneath. Plenty of little ones get scared to try again after a tumble. Lila shows that it’s fine to go back slowly, with soft landings and friends close by.
Look inside
Flip through the opening pages of the book.
Questions to ask after reading
A few questions for the minute after the book closes. There are no wrong answers.
- Why did Lila freeze in the air when she tried her jump?
- What did Kitty and Dino do to make practice feel safer?
- Dino says “sometimes, all we need is a friend who believes in us.” Who believes in you?
Perfect for
- ✓ Kids who are scared to try again after a fall
- ✓ Little ones who love bugs and sports
- ✓ Talking about practice, one small step at a time
- ✓ A cozy, gentle bedtime read
Quick answers
For the kid who’s scared to try again
One short story. One brave little ladybird. Ready for tonight.
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