Ladybug Blue
On the tip of a particular tulip, in a particular town, in the backyard of a very particular child, could be found a very particular bug. Ladybug Blue was, as far as anyone knew, the only ladybug who wasn’t red. The tulip was yellow.
Blue like the sky, with seven perfectly round little black dots, Ladybug Blue was gorgeous seated upon a yellow petal. But you know what’s funny? Ladybug Blue was a boy. Oh, lots of ladybugs are boys, but it’s hard to tell the difference because they’re all red. Not Ladybug Blue. He stood out like blue frosting on a yellow cake.
Ladybug Blue was beautiful, but it was not always easy to be different. There were times he just wanted to be red like everyone else. It was easy to find a red flower and blend in. It wasn’t so easy to find a blue one.
But the sky! Ladybug Blue loved to fly in the air, and when he did he was almost invisible. It was as if seven tiny black dots were floating in the air by themselves.
And that’s why Ladybug Blue liked his yellow tulip. It reminded him of the sun. But one day a little sparrow came and nearly picked him off the flower. “I’ve got to do something,” he thought, “or I’m going to lose my life!” The sparrow turned and came back for a second try, but just at that moment the sliding door opened to the porch, and the sparrow flew off.
Komal, the child of the house, had come outside, and in her hand was a paint set. You see, Komal loved Ladybug Blue and she wanted to help. “Look,” she said, “I’ve got red, green, purple, and yellow,” and she began to take out her brushes.
Komal painted Ladybug Blue yellow first, but that just made him green! So they tried the familiar red, but that just made him purple. Komal laughed.
“This is life and death,” said Ladybug Blue, “no laughing matter.” But it’s true that the paintbrush tickled.
After a long time, Ladybug Blue was slathered in color. Everywhere he stepped, tiny daubs of paint were left behind by his footprints, like mini polka dots on the tulips. “You need a bath,” said Komal.
Finish the Story with Your Children
**Ideas for this story. What does a blue ladybug mean to you? Try to see how one unexpected change can be the source of an entire story. Give each character a unique personality and voice. What sort of resolution would you like to see?
Ladybug photo by Janice Gill on UnSplash
Storytelling Tips
Give your attention to the relationship between you and your children. Often, when we think of storytelling, we think of the story. We invite you to focus instead on the relationship that exists between you and your children as you tell it. This is the sweet spot, not the narrative. There is research indicating that storytelling evolved as a social skill to help humans build intimacy, trust, and attachment.
Focus on the image of the story, not the words. Allow it to draw you into your imagination, and forget about memorizing or doing it right. Once you sink into this creative mood, stories almost tell themselves. There are no mistakes to be made. Sometimes the goofs are the best part!
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