A Bug-Lightful Discovery

by Karen B. Shea, Luella Jane Wright (illustrator)

Emelia is a spunky seven-year-old girl who spends her summers at her grandparents’ cabin in the wilds of Wyoming, a place where she and her siblings are free to explore, play, and learn about nature. But one morning, Emelia comes across a part of nature that she doesn't want to

A big, alien-looking beetle.

Emelia’s instinct is to stomp on the strange critter, but Ms. Z won't let her, and soon Gramma Jane has Emelia off on a special mission. With her bug book in hand and lots of critters to explore, it’s up to Emelia to discover that everything has a purpose, whether we know it or not.

32 pages, Paperback

Published June 26, 2024

About the author

Karen B. Shea is a writer, photographer, and nature lover. She lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her family, two cats, and an assortment of wild critters that frequent her yard. It was actually one of those wild critters—a Mountain Beaver—that inspired Karen to write her first children’s book, "Clark the Mountain Beaver and His Big Adventure!"

Karen's second children's book "A Bug-Lightful Discovery" was released in July 2024 and was inspired by her neighbor's granddaughter when a big alien-looking beetle landed on her porch. In this moment Karen knew this was an opportunity to teach the young and young at heart 'everything' has a purpose whether we know it or not!

Karen’s passion for nature continues to guide her to write and inspire others about the magic and wonders of the natural world.

You can learn more about Karen and her books at www.karenbshea.com.

Reviews

[Marin . · Rating 4 out of 5]

A BUG-LIGHTFUL DISCOVERY is a little book that is both entertaining and educational: insects are measured in quintillions, therefore plentiful, but they are a symbol of interconnectedness and survival.
The storyline doesn't show that there are about 2 billion insects for every human being, but it teaches young readers to respect and protect our environment.
The author shows only a few crawling, sucking nectar, or buzzing around bugs. Still, it is enough to give a powerful lesson to budding entomologists and readers interested in the animal world.
The child-centric perspective chosen by the author/illustrator team is wonderfully executed.
The words are not complicated and do not make youngsters feel overwhelmed.
The visuals?
They are gorgeous.
My only question is, "What happened with the two cats and the first sentence of the book?"

[Melissa Blizzard · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Bug-Lightful Discovery by Karen B. Shea is a delightful children's picture book about a young girl who studies nature to learn that everything we see around us has a purpose and value. When Emelia is lectured for wanting to stomp on a beetle which she finds outdoors, her grandmother hands her a book about insects and sends her outdoors to learn their importance. Young readers will certainly have fun following Emelia about as she teaches a few important lessons about the cycle of nature and how everything has a role.

[Patricia de Hemricourt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Bug-Life Discovery captures a child’s impulsive curiosity and turns it into a tender lesson about care and awareness. The story’s lively dialogue and expressive art invite children to slow down and see value in even the tiniest creatures. It subtly teaches respect for nature, but could include a bit more factual context about beetles for inquisitive six-year-olds. A perfect read-aloud that nurtures kindness, patience, and wonder toward nature.

[Karen Shea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though I am the author, I have to say this is a great read!!! It has a solid message with colorful fun illustrations to teach chlildren "everything has a purpose whether we know it or not" with the help from a few bugs. Starting the children in our lives off early understanding our connection to the natural world will be a win win for the them and the environment.

[Janet Ashmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A Bug-Lightful Discovery" is a beautifully illustrated book that teaches children about the purpose of bugs. This story will teach children some reasons they should protect, not kill, bugs. They will find the plot captivating and relatable.

[Carolyn Watson-Dubisch · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic story for kids about exploring some of the tiniest creatures in this world. Insects are not just pests, they play an important role in the world. The story was sweet and well told and the art is just stunning. I love children’s books with great art!