Are You A Ladybug?

Up The Garden Path / Backyard Books

by Judy Allen, Tudor Humphries

Beginning with its title question, "Are you a ladybug?", this accessible book is perfect for reading aloud and tells young readers how they would experience life if they were a ladybug.

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Science, Animals, Nature, Childrens, Summer

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Judy Allen is an award-winning author whose novel Awaiting Developments was short-listed for the Whitbread Children's Novel Award.

Judy Allen, along with illustrator Tudor Humphries, created Kingfisher's award-winning Backyard Books series and many other successful books, including the Reading Rainbow selections Tiger and Seal.

Reviews

[Katie Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loke the detailed pictures in this book. I learned a lot from this book and I would use it as a research tool for children learning about ladybugs. I didn't know what ladybugs looked like when they were first born or the variety of ladybugs.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A backyard book for young readers. Beginning with ladybug parents who eat aphids and progressing through the life cycle of a ladybug, young readers will discover the changes a ladybug experiences before becoming an adult.

And are YOU a ladybug?

With captivating illustrations, this informative narrative will appeal to all young readers interested in the world around them, especially the bugs in their own back yards.

Recommended.

[Kristin Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was great. I loved the second person point of view (If you are a ladybug, this is what you should be doing...). It made the book fun. The illustrations are clear and colorful and there are quite a few facts. Yet it's rather short. An early non-fiction book suitable for preschoolers!

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

My preschooler loves this series. Great introduction to different insects.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a super cute way to learn about ladybugs - any 4 year old likes to play pretend. And I even learned what an aphid is.

[Lynnea (Juv) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute book for younger kids. It's like a handbook for ladybugs and what they should do: eat aphids, eat some more, peel off your skin, etc. Very cute.

[Jurene · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best living ladybug picture book. Absolutely recommend it!

[LemontreeLime · Rating 4 out of 5]

"eat lots of aphids. they are easy to catch and they are very good for you."

[Vivian]

The "Are You a..." non-fiction series is a good choice for introducing young children (and all the rest of us) to the insect world.

We chose this one to include in a library story-time about fire fighters because of the verse
"Ladybird, ladybird fly away home,
Your house is on fire and your children are gone,
All except one,
And her name is Ann,
And she hid under the baking pan."

Children are fascinated with everything to do with the world around them and will enjoy informational books. One of the "Emergent Literacy" keys is PRINT MOTIVATION.

Print Motivation "relates to a child's interest in and enjoyment of books.[11] A child with print motivation might enjoy being read to, playing with books, pretending to write, and going to the library.[12] Children who enjoy books are more likely to want to read, and to keep trying, even when it is hard" -- Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergent...

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another fun book in the Are You a... series of books by Judy Allen and Tudor Humphries. We like these books. They offer scientific information, but in a colorful and fun format. Children will like how the books speaks to them and helps to compare a human to the insect described. And the Did You Know... section in the back offers additional facts about the topic. We will certainly look for more books in this series.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book whimsically looks at what your life would be like if you were a ladybug. A very constant theme is to keep eating aphids, especially early on, so that you can grow. It has nice illustrations. Near the end of the story, you're told that if your parents look more like this (drawings of human parents of various skin colors), then you are not a ladybug; the explanation of how your life will be different culminates in the fact that you will never ever have to eat aphids! A final 2-page spread at the end gives additional ladybug facts.

My children in the preschool and early elementary years have enjoyed it, and it's especially good for those who enjoy the silly or ridiculous. After this book, I purchased the snail title in this series, which is also good.

[Brandi Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one in a series of books that is written to explain the appearance, habits, and life cycle of bugs. The book is told from the perspective of a ladybug who is talking to the human children who are reading the book. This book does an excellent job, in my opinion, of explaining how a ladybug starts life as an egg and continues until old age without belaboring scientific terms and points but still provides information for the youngest readers. A kindergarten student should be able to read this book, but it works from a comprehension standpoint for a preschooler. The pictures are simple and easy understand.

[Deidra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written by Judy Allen, illustrated by Tudor Humpries. Published by Kingfisher Publications, copyright 2000.

Grade Level: 1st and up

This story leads children through the life of a ladybug starting from the egg as if the reader was a ladybug.

Children will like this story because it gives lots of interesting facts about the insect most people like, and it lets them use their immagination to pretend that they are ladybugs.

Possible themes or units: insects, nature

[Samantha Catalano · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned so much by reading this book! What a great book to read when doing science! For the size book that it is, it explains a lot about ladybugs that I never knew before. At the end, it ties the whole thing back to the reader, who has to figure out if they fit the description of a ladybug. Instead, through the depiction of multiple diverse families, we conclude that we are human beings instead.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and informative, perfect for younger kids. Worked well in preschool storytime.

[Karre · Rating 4 out of 5]

this series of books are awesome science books for preschoolers.

[Colleen]

Wings and Things unit

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very fun nonfiction, my child adores this book!

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

We learned A LOT about ladybugs in this book. I like that it was informative enough without too much information to bog the reader down.

[CFAITC]

This book introduces preschoolers to the world of the ladybug and how it undergoes metamorphosis.

[Carrie Gelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this series!

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Are You a Ladybug? (Backyard Books) by Judy Allen --This was charming and just a bit on the gross side, so I'm hoping my nephew will love it! Happy Reading!

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

2/27/24: More of a 3-star read for the preschool group I had today, which skewed young. If I had more 4-year-olds, it would be a good nonfiction fit.

[Shelby Troutman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This books shows how lady bugs come to be from the laying of the eggs to gaining their wings.