Review by Booklist Review
Despite her sweet smile, sparkling eyes, and beautiful shiny-red wings, Lucy is ostracized by the other ladybugs: where they display black spots of various sizes and configurations on their wings, Lucy is spotless. Dejected, she makes her way in the world by herself. All year long, Lucy meets other creatures and admires their spots. These generous friends offer to share, and soon Lucy is sporting a variety of multicolored spots on her wings. When spring arrives again, she returns home to show the other ladybugs her spotty bounty but she still doesn't quite fit in. A big foldout spread, however, declares that being different is fantastic. King-Chai's mixed-media art uses photos of leaves and flowers, cut paper, bold colors, and simply rendered faces to illustrate Lucy's fluttering journey to self-acceptance. Some kiddos might wonder why Lucy needs spots at all, since the creatures she encounters all think she's just fine the way she is, but that's a quibble. The cheery illustrations and ultimate (if slightly dampened) message about being different have plenty of appeal.--Willey, Paula Copyright 2016 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
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. VERDICT Children will feel empowered by this vibrant, simple, and heartwarming selection, and teachers will enjoy reinforcing its message of acceptance and generosity.-Sally James, South Hillsborough Elementary School, Hillsborough, CA © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
How can a ladybug who's just a little different fit in? Lucy is shunned by all the other ladybugs. "You can't be one of us," they cry. "You have no spots." It's true; Lucy's orange wings are unspotted. She flies away, feeling sad and alone. Lucy encounters Fred Frog and envies his bright green spots. He generously shares one with her while reminding her that she's beautiful. "You float so smoothly through the air!" Buoyed a bit, Lucy floats on, next meeting Carla Caterpillar, who rides a big tandem bicycle and has bright yellow spots. Lucy admires these, and Carla, like Fred, generously gives her one. Next comes Felicity Fish (who seems to function just fine out of the water), who gives Lucy a bright blue spot. And Bella Bird gives Lucy one of her dazzling white spots. With four beautiful new spots, Lucy at last feels like a real ladybug. But when she returns home, she realizes that all of the other ladybugs have black spots. She's not like them at all. And the very next moment, Lucy decides that being different "was actually / a good thing!" This epiphany is underscored by a big, bold, four-page fold-out surprise. Both King-Chai's text and illustrations, seamlessly adapted from the app Lucy Ladybird (2014), are bright and uber-cute, easily carrying the valuable message. Sweet. (Picture book. 3-5) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
