ABOUT THIS BOOK: THE GROUNCHY LADYBUG
by Eric Carle
Mr. Carle is a popular and celebrated author of children’s books, winning numerous awards, including the 2003 Laura Ingalls Wilder Award for his lifetime contribution to children’s literature and illustration. The Grouchy Ladybug is one of his most popular books. His brilliant illustrations enhance the storyline about an ill-tempered, aggressive ladybug who challenges animal after animal to fight. By the end of the story the ladybug becomes much nicer and well-mannered.
The Grouchy Ladybug was published in 1977. Its continued popularity has gained it over 16,000 ratings on www.goodreads.com. In numerous reviews, parents, teachers, and caregivers tell of using this book to illustrate the importance of proper social behavior, discussing that nice behavior brings happiness to the ladybug and the other bugs. All children deal with misbehavior, attitudes that need adjusting, anger, and frustration. The very grouchy ladybug exhibits all of these. Wonderful discussions about the consequences of misbehavior, the importance of good manners, and the happiness that comes with sharing can evolve from this clever plot.
The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art would be a great stop if you are ever near Amherst, Massachusetts. Not only would your child recognize pictures from Mr. Carle’s 70+ books, but also illustrations by other popular picture book artists. Currently, Mo Willems, a Practickle favorite, has his work on display in the museum.
An added extra: The Grouchy Ladybug’s brilliant illustrations provide practice telling time. The ladybug has one confrontation per hour. Look for the clock and note the time on it as you move through the story.
The Reading Comprehension Best Practice highlighted for this book is USING GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS. In the Activity Options after the Third Reading, you’ll find a graphic organizer combining both telling time and the numerous animals that are challenged by the grouchy ladybug.