ABOUT THE BOOK
Lisbeth and the Littering Ladybugs
Written by P.E. Shadrick
Illustrated by Maya Penzlik
Ages: 3-6 | 32 Pages
Publisher: P.E. Shadrick | ISBN: 979-8-9912340-0-9
Publisher’s Book Summary: Do you know what happens at night when you sleep? The ladybugs come out to play!
Lisbeth, a lively six-year-old, wakes up one morning to discover a tangled mess in her hair. Her grandmother tells her the story of how a group of playful ladybugs is the cause of all the knots in her hair. Through Grandma’s fanciful story of the ladybugs’ glorious grand gala, Lisbeth learns the lesson of how shared responsibility can be both necessary and fun.
Inspired by the stories of P.E. Shadrick’s own grandmother, this charming story comes to life through the vibrant watercolor illustrations of Montreal artist, Maya Penzlik.
Available in hardback and a special expanded artwork edition (11″ x 8.5″), as well as paperback (8.5″ x 8.5″), Kindle, and digital editions.
PURCHASE LINK
Author’s Website—Special Edition
MY REVIEW
Lisbeth and her brother Christopher get of bed when Grandma tells them, “Wake up, sleepy heads!” They sit up and rub their eyes wondering what exciting things Grandma has planned for the day. From the illustrations we can see that Lisbeth has a major case of bedhead - her hair seems to take up almost as much room as Lisbeth herself. As Grandma patiently brushes the tangles out, she comments that the “ladybugs must have thrown a grand gala in your hair last night!” Lisbeth is curious about the ladybugs, so Grandma tells her a story about a group of ladybugs who decide to throw a party for their friends. Some make treats, some sew costumes, and some make the decorations. The friends all hold onto the streamers as they dance, which knots them all up. Lisbeth realizes the streamers are her hair. Lisbeth learns a few important lessons while listening to Grandma. Sometimes others make a mess and we have to clean it up, because “being responsible means doing what is needed.” This is modeled by Grandma’s assistance with Lisbeth’s messy hair. Since her grandmother is so kind and patient about untangling all those knots, her kindness “inspired Lisbeth to…offer a helping hand whenever needed.” And she even takes more responsibility for herself by deciding to brush her hair each night before bed to help prevent the tangles. Many adults may have memories of trying to sit still while an adult worked to untangle their hair. Different families have different nicknames for those early morning tangles, although they may never have heard that the ladybugs did it. My family called the tangles “rats.” The name came from comments that the tangles made the hair look like it was full of rats’ nests. Ewww! A ladybug gala sounds much nicer. Once you read this story with children, they will probably want to share their own tales of bad hair days and what their family calls those tangles.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
From an early age, Atlanta, Georgia-born P.E. Shadrick was surrounded by masterful storytellers. Carrying forward a shared love of boundless creativity, she pursued opportunities of artistic expression in design and writing, eventually settling into a profession in marketing & communications. Inspired by her grandmother’s stories, Lisbeth and the Littering Ladybugs is P.E. Shadrick’s first published book. But with a treasure trove of imaginative stories to tell, it certainly won’t be her last
For more information, visit peshadrick.com.
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ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR
Maya Penzlik is a talented artist and illustrator living in Montreal, Canada. She creates beautiful, whimsical paintings featuring colorful characters and dreamy landscapes full of life and magic. Maya draws inspiration from her dreams, cherished childhood memories, and desire to explore new and exciting places. Her work is also influenced by the special moments she shares with her daughter, Eva.
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