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Ten Little Ladybugs

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Young readers may feel the raised ladybugs as they count down from ten to one.

22 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

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Melanie Gerth

41 books5 followers

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5 stars
2,961 (45%)
4 stars
1,777 (27%)
3 stars
1,359 (20%)
2 stars
363 (5%)
1 star
98 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 250 reviews
Profile Image for Peterb.
22 reviews1 follower
April 16, 2012
A gothic tale of kidnapping, murder, cannibalism, and mayhem in the insect kingdom, Ten Little Ladybugs, written by Melanie Gerth and illustrated by Laura Huliska-Beith, presents a troubling view of the devastating havoc that eschatological idolatry and ideology wreak on America’s children. That such potentially scarring material is promoted as a “children’s book” is even more troubling.

The cover is gaily festooned with the pastoral scene from a bourgeois garden, the smiles on the faces of the predatory insects arrayed around the ladybugs designed to mislead even the most cynical reader. The ladybugs themselves are given special treatment, being plastic appliques which can be touched by the unwitting child-victim. This pre-literate tactile contact enhances the bond between the reader and the helpless meals-ready-to-eat. As the pages are turned, and the ladybugs are devoured one by one, the appliques disappear one at a time as well, leaving only holes in the book (and in the soul and heart of the toddler holding it).

Once the reader is lured to begin the book, there is no respite. It begins with an almost Tarantinoesque shock of bloody violence:


Ten little ladybugs, sitting on a vine.
Along came a butterfly, then there were….

and when the reader turns the page, of course, they will find the word “nine,” and the first of the harmless ladybugs has been consumed by the innocently smiling butterfly. The phrasing of the poem, an homage to Agatha Christie’s classic suspense thriller Ten Little Indians, is both calculated and cruel. As in that grim, humourless work, there is no detective come to save the day here; no Pea-weevil Poirot to stop the slaughter and accuse the guilty. All there is here is death, senseless and brutal.

Nine little ladybugs, skipping on a gate
Along came a caterpiller, then there were eight.

The innocence of the ladybugs is maintained throughout the narrative. It is more than mere unwariness — even as they move towards their stomach-acid drenched doom, the author relentlessly describes them as “skipping,” “dancing,” trying to force the reader into accepting the (nonsensical) idea that the ladybugs have accepted, even welcomed joyously, being rent asunder in this fashion. The analogy to Leni Riefenstahl’s Tag der Freiheit, which likewise disguised the horrors of the Nazi regime by focusing on the smiling, fresh faces of German soldiers, could not be more clear. Of course the caterpilllar is healthy and strong — he is nourished by the flesh of those he oppresses.

I will not excerpt the entire book here — enough harm has been done by Gerth and Huliska-Beith, and I do not want to continue the madness — but their message is corrupt and corrupting: “No one is innocent.” A bee, a turtle, a duck, even animals that are not insectivorous take part in the macabre ladybug buffet.

I was ready to write this off as merely another piece of “shock” fiction, when I reached the chilling conclusion that demonstrated the devious (and subtle) ideology behind the tract:

One little ladybug, sitting all alone
Along came a breeze, and then she was…home.

The symbology here is powerful and insidious. By employing the very elements themseves to deliver the coup de grace, Gerth disclaims responsibility and absolves the guilty of their crimes. “That’s the way the world really works,” she seems to be saying. “Get used to it, kids. Eat or be eaten.” Such a message, while dispiriting, might be acceptable in a book targeted at an older audience (Orwell’s “a boot stomping on a human face…forever” comes to mind), since it could be viewed as a cautionary tale. Here, targeted at toddlers, it is merely mean-spirited.

In the final page, depicting all the ladybugs “safe and sound” in the afterlife, happily cavorting with their various tormentors, you can hear the authors’ cruel, mocking laughter echoing through the page. It chilled me to the very bone.

Ten Little Ladybugs is readily available to children at your local bookstore, and also at amazon.com.

Next week: The feast of Atreus and Miss Spider’s Tea Party.

An earlier revision of this review initially appeared here: http://tleaves.com/2004/04/30/ten-lit...
Profile Image for Jason Brown (Toastx2).
350 reviews19 followers
June 10, 2015
Ten little ladybugs are in an epic eleven page journey home. While traveling they meet several animals in the wild and interact in awesome counting fashion. Filled with colorful images. Not much to say for plot, it was written for three year olds with interactive number memorization in mind.

As a classic counting book, ten becomes one and repetition rules. Accomplishes the task well.

What makes this counting book stand out is the three dimensional ladybugs. Firmly placed in a wide base within each page, they cannot be dislodged without serious physical damage to the book. They are baby friendly and make the counting feel more real.

Kid Perspective:
Both of my children, really like this book. The elder spawn believes that the frog is amazing, the grasshopper, the .. Well everything..

This is one of many counting books that he owns, so he could never advise if it is superior to any other, but it is obvious that he digs it.

He has physically beaten this book up, folding it in half backwards and it still survives.

The younger spawn believes this book tastes good.


Parent perspective:
Why.. Seriously why... More than half of the ladybugs make off with predators. Witness the above image. Two little ladybugs, plus one frog equals lunch.

Yet somehow, the final page of the book has all of the creatures and all of the ladybugs home safe and sound. This sounds like some ladybug blackmarket meat ring. This book has frightening lessons to be learned.

It is cute though, and it is well built, and the kids like it. So I suppose the darker plot should remain hidden till they are old enough to turn goth and appreciate the dark humor contained.

Xpost from http://kidspoiler.rawblurb.com
Profile Image for Lou.
83 reviews
July 12, 2024
Read this to a very attentive audience (Sally Rabbit)
225 reviews2 followers
Read
June 8, 2025
Mom and dad tried to show me how to feel the ladybugs. I didn’t get it
Profile Image for Amos Kitani.
13 reviews5 followers
December 19, 2012
This is such a strange book. Spoiler alert: the book is rather bold in its plot. It begins with 10 little ladybugs (very true to its title) but on each page, a larger animal appears (e.g., bird, grasshopper, fish) and a ladybug disappears. So babies like me are lead to believe that this is a "life-is-rough" kind of book about those that eat and those that are eaten. But at the end of the book, all the ladybugs (and the 9 other animals mentioned) reappear! At the end of the book, I'm left with many questions. Why would these animals simply run off with ladybugs? Is it that the ladybugs themselves wanted to be taken from their ladybug compatriots? Aren't these animals natural predators of ladybugs? Is the author simply trying to shield us babies from the harsh truth of the wild?

The plot isn't the only reason for the 1 star review. The entire story seems to be one long run-on sentence. It makes for an awkward read.
14 reviews
Read
June 8, 2016
"Ten Little Ladybugs" is a book that introduces the concept of counting to children. In the story, ten little ladybugs disappear one at a time. On each page, the child can count each of the ladybugs. This book helps to strengthen the child's ability to identify numbers, count, and recognize patterns (i.e. the pattern of a ladybug disappearing on each page). With this text, I would supply each child with ten little ladybugs and have the children take one away as each page is read aloud. This allows the child to visually observe each ladybug disappearing as well as physically manipulate the ladybugs as a way to follow along with the story and make it more interactive.
Profile Image for Ethan & Isaac.
361 reviews2 followers
April 6, 2018
One of my favorites. I love to point to the ladybugs and wait for my mom to count them or tell me what color they are. Don't worry, no ladybugs are actually eaten by grasshoppers, birds or the other animals featured in this book. They are all friends and all ten ladybugs are reunited! Phew!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for PuPilla.
961 reviews88 followers
November 4, 2022
Irtó aranyos könyv kidomborodó katicákkal, amiket lehet matatni és számolni olvasás közben. Minden oldalon egy újabb állat tűnik fel, és egy újabb katica tűnik el... de a végén mind meglesz. ;)

Kellemesen ismétlődő soros olvasmány, szép képek, jó formátum, strapabíró is, nagyon szeretjük.
Profile Image for Jay Gabler.
Author 13 books145 followers
July 4, 2024
The end of this book feels a little like, “Don’t worry, the dog just went to live on a farm in the country.”
Profile Image for Jordyn Reddy.
40 reviews1 follower
February 22, 2023
Ten Little Ladybugs by Melanie Gert was the first memory I have of reading. This was my all-time favorite book as a child. The colorful illustrations and short phrases made it easy to read and understand. The book also counted down from 10 to 1, which helped me learn how to count backwards. Re-reading this book as an adult brought back my childhood memories.
31 reviews1 follower
April 8, 2014
While I like the concept of this book, and the illustrations were colorful and appealing, my inner child spent the whole time I was reading it screaming, "are all the lady bugs dead????" This is like a thinly veiled lesson about the circle of life in the bug/animal kingdom. Or possibly something that could be turned into a murder mystery. While as an adult I found this to be morbidly humorous, I think that it could easily be terribly distressing to a child. At least everything turns out all right in the end, but with a particularly sensitive child that could be a very long five minutes of reading. In the end it's a cute concept, but they could have done a bit better on the execution.
Profile Image for Dolly.
Author 1 book671 followers
October 26, 2008
Cute counting story with colorful illustrations, a fun rhyming narrative and hard plastic ladybugs. Our girls have borrowed this book several times from the library. And now they can read it themselves.
33 reviews
December 7, 2021
This is a cute book about ten little lady bugs and their fun little adventures. The book begins with 10 lady bugs on a vine, and when a butterfly comes along there are 9 lady bugs. As the book progresses the lady bugs meet new friends like a grasshopper, duck, fish, and bird. After every new friend the lady bugs meet, one disappears. This is a unique story because the lady bugs are in the page and as you turn the page, one will disappear. The book counts all the way down from 10 to 1 and rhymes along the way. When there is 1 ladybug left and you turn the page, we get to see all the lady bugs with the friend they meet on their page. I think one of my favorite things about this book are the illustrations. I particularly like how the animals on each page pop from the background. I think this was a great way to draw attention to the other characters in the book as the lady bugs are very much already the main part of the story. I would also consider the lady bugs themselves to be illustrations and they add a lot of depth to the books text. The last page is the best page to look at the illustrations because it is extremely colorful and detailed. I enjoyed this book a lot, especially because it was one of my favorites growing up. I loved to watch the lady bugs on the page disappear, I thought it was so cool and clever. My mom would read this book with me before bed, so it brings up some good memories. I would use this book with a group of first graders to help them go over their counting skills. I think this is the best book to use because of the visual help from the bugs coming out of the page. I also think the rhymes would help them stay focused and engaged in the story.
Profile Image for Anna Sommer.
30 reviews
September 8, 2020
"Ten Little Ladybugs" is a counting book that counts backwards from 10 all the way to 1. It has a rhyming pattern which makes it easier for the kids listening or reading to be able to figure out what number comes next, even if counting backwards is still difficult for them. The book starts with 10 ladybugs and on each new page a different bigger animal comes by and takes a ladybug, seemingly eating it. However, at the end of the story when the 1 little ladybug is all alone, eventually that ladybug makes it back home to the rest of his 9 brothers and sisters and all of the big animal friends. The illustrations are bright and colorful, they somewhat give me the same kind of vibes as Eric Carle in that sort of watercolor feel. But, the most fun part is the textured plastic ladybugs. On each page there are raised plastic ladybugs, and one disappears with each new page, giving a very obvious illusion of the ladybugs leaving and there being fewer and fewer each time. The raised ladybugs also make it very easy to count how many ladybugs are left. This book would be gret for kindergarten and first graders, because they can most likely already count or are learning to count to 10, but counting backwards or down is a totally different, unfamiliar concept for them. It's fun with the rhymes and pretty to look at and the counting is made very obvious and would be easy for them to grasp after a few reads I think.
Profile Image for Kayla Lewis.
10 reviews
September 20, 2023
"Ten Little Ladybugs" by Melanie Gerth is a young learner children's book that is about ten ladybugs who disappear one by one. It is not only going to help the child identify patterns, numbers, and count, but it will also provide them with information about a variety of animals in case they don't already know anything about them. By taking this opportunity to learn more about them we will be in a much better position to gain a deeper understanding of who they are. The story progresses by introducing a variety of different animals, and the number of ladybugs remaining is determined by counting down from 10 at the end. In particular, children will enjoy seeing and touching the ladybugs due to the vivid artwork and the fact that each ladybug is raised from the page so that they can easily see and feel them. Sadly, all the ladybugs in the story are lost at the end of the story, but eventually, they find a way to be reunited with their new animal buddies. Moebuis emphasizes that "it is easy to be captivated by the loveable and endearing that inhabit the modern picturebook"(Moebuis, 249). In picturebooks, the images are illustrated visually in a way that allows the young ones to learn about the artist's creations as well as have their imaginations stimulated. As a result, young students will be able to develop a deeper understanding of what ladybugs are, as well as counting.
Profile Image for nikki.
452 reviews9 followers
March 22, 2017
i used this for a babies and toddlers program, and only have good things to say. 10 little ladybugs is a traditional counting rhyme with lots of repetition and rhyme, and very rhythmic - i opted for a more melodic sort of rhythmic chanting, but you could easily sing it if you wanted to. this book expands on the rhyme a bit, and of course comes with lovely visuals to tell the story of the rhyme.

this one was particularly popular with the more tactile toddlers at the storytime. at my request, they (mostly) sat down nicely while i read them the book - they just really wanted to touch the ladybugs. after the program was over, some kids stayed for a bit to read it themselves. they loved touching the ladybugs as they counted with their caregivers, and at least one caregiver left with the resolve to look into buying the book for their own collections at home. i think this book is really great for tactile learners getting started with their counting. i would definitely recommend it for caregivers of kids with adhd/add, especially
50 reviews2 followers
March 9, 2020
Another one of my childhood classics, was Ten Little Ladybugs. This picture book allows readers to follow along ten ladybugs, one after one leave each page. This book was designed for smaller children, where the book itself has sturdy, thick pages, so babies can flip open and use without destroying. Another specially aspect of this story is the lady bugs themselves. Rather than just drawings, the ladybugs are three-dimensional plastic pieces that pop out of the pages and the cover. Making the book more interactive and a different format, versus other young readers books. I enjoy this book very much because I have memories reading this book as a child, as well as fun to be able to hear the stories of how each of the ladybugs leave. This book would be a good way to get students to learn how to count backwards, as well as familiarize themselves with sums. This book could be a great read-aloud book or you could even integrate into subtraction lessons. A lesson you could do if find little red skittles or M&Ms that students can eat, as the ladybugs disappear from the book.
26 reviews
October 17, 2022
Ten Little Ladybugs by Melanie Gerthh is a story with vibrant colors to teach students about the numbers one-ten. The story begins with ten ladybugs sitting on a vine until a butterfly swopped in and then there were nine. Each page has a different animal coming in to take one ladybug away until there is one left. At the end all ten lady bugs are back in their pond. I would use this book in kindergarten to teach students about numbers one-ten. This would be helpful for one to one correspondence with each number and ladybug. Students could then draw ten of something they choose on their own and we can read the story again. This also book has rhyming on each page, so it can be connected to literacy and having students find the rhyming words. I could print each word and number on a paper and cut them out. Then the students would have to match the rhyming words up. This would also teach them how to write numbers in their correct letter form.
16 reviews
January 25, 2024
This book was very fun to read and it had an amazing cover to it. It was very tactically pleasing because it had little raised ladybugs that you could put your fingers over. The book started with 10 ladybugs and then one disappeared each page you read because an animal came up to eat it. At the end of the book, it was very happy because all the animals were reunited together as one big happy family.
I personally loved this book and can’t see why anyone would dislike this book. It is a very happy book because it talks about animals and how counting down works.
When my kids learn how to count, I will definitely be reading this book to them to help them understand the importance of literacy and math goes together. Math is very important in today’s culture and people must be taught the importance of it. I can’t wait to let my kids feel these ladybugs and help me count down as we read this book in our future literacy circles.
1 review1 follower
November 25, 2018
I'm an RECE working with Toddlers for 15+ years and I've bought 3 copies of this book.

1st one got ripped and beaten up by the curious children all loved them so much also due to wear and tear, so I bought the 2nd one as my resource in the classroom.

The 3rd one I bought for my own son.

This book for some reason has the magic power to attract young children because of the colorful illustrations and everyone want's to touch the little pop-up ladybugs. It's a great tool to help children learn about counting and different animals. Whenever my classroom is getting chaotic this book is my magic wand to settle them down as they'll automatically sit down and listens attentively to this book.

It's an absolute must have for parents wanting to get young children interested in reading.
Profile Image for Jenna Harris.
28 reviews
November 13, 2017
Summary:
This story is about ten little lady bugs and each of them going away with a different animal. At the end of the story they are all back together - and home!

The story is supported strongly by illustrations and little ladybugs that are three-dimensional. With the the text, the numeric associated with the number of ladybugs left is also drawn on the page.

Writing traits:
Sentence fluency - There is a certain rhythm and flow when reading this book. Each sentence starts with *insert number* little ladybugs... Along came a .... and then there were... The sentences carry the same pattern and flow. The number of ladybugs is also written in all capital letters to help emphasize the number of ladybugs.

Reading level: C
Profile Image for Erin Dolson.
23 reviews
May 30, 2025
confusing. "and then there were 8". what precedes the 'then'? What is the action? I 'one rested on a rock' as describing the location of the one lady bug, not that he STOPPED to rest on a rock and that's why there's 8 now. You can say "one STOPPED to rest on a rock" and it will STILL RHYME. Upset and confused. will never read this to a child bc surely it would confuse them. I'm not sure I understand math anymore after reading this book. bc of the regression of my math skills I had to quit my job and go back to elementary school. will my fiancé still want to get married if he's married to someone in ELEMENTARY SCHOOL??? I think not. life ruining.
20 reviews
April 3, 2019
Absolutely LOVE this book! As you start off reading this book, there are 10 ladybugs, and with each turn of the page one disappears and just keeps counting down until there aren't anymore ladybugs. This book is great for infants and toddlers, this book includes literacy and math all in one fun book! The texture of the book is also a favorite, as the children count each lady bug, they can actually touch and feel the lady bugs. The illustration is also fantastic, lots of colors to go over with your little ones too!
37 reviews
April 22, 2019
Ages 1-6 Grade Level: PreK- 1st

This is a counting book for young children who are learning how to count. Little Ladybugs crawl on the pages and as you turn the pages the start to hide.

I would use this in my classroom for children who are learning how to count up to 10. One thing that I see problematic would be that children see this as a toy as the Ladybugs are a little like toys glued onto a book. However, I see it beneficial for children who are hands on learners and visuals so that they are able to touch and make that one to one coordination.
51 reviews2 followers
April 18, 2020
This picture book allows for readers to follow along as ten ladybugs interact with animals as they leave the page one by one. This story allows for the readers to practice their counting backwards skills as they count down from 10 to 0. To help the readers follow along with the book the ladybugs are three-dimensional which allow for them to pop right off the pages. This was a favorite book of mine growing up because I was able to follow along as the butterflies left the pages and eventually made it home. This book would help any student who is needing more help with numbers.

99 reviews
March 14, 2021
Ten Little Ladybugs is a book from my past, that I read again while babysitting. To this day, I love this book. Ten Little Ladybugs by Melanie Gerth is a book that introduces counting. As the book goes on, a ladybug disappears and allows for a child to count the ladybugs left. I like the use of hard plastic ladybugs fixed to the pages. This gives the child the opportunity to touch what they are counting. I would use this book to teach number sense to young students with the use of manipulatives.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 250 reviews

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