The Bad-Tempered Ladybird

Story

Two hungry ladybirds spot a leaf covered in yummy aphids. The bad-tempered ladybird doesn’t want to share and challenges the friendly ladybird to a fight. But when the friendly ladybird reluctantly accepts, the bad-tempered ladybird decides he would rather fight with someone bigger…

Why we chose it

Children love grouchiness of the ladybird and the ever larger animals she challenges to a fight. Parents may recognise the grumpiness of a hungry toddler who doesn’t want to share.

Where it came from

Eric Carle (1929 - 2021) is an American artist and author, best known for his book The Very Hungry Caterpillar (1969). As a child, Eric loved to walk in nature with his father, who taught him about all the animals in the woods. These scuttling, slithering creatures inspired many of his stories, including The Bad-Tempered Ladybird.

Where it went next

The book follows the bad-tempered ladybird’s journey throughout the day, and is used widely by schools to encourage children to share and to value friendship and in teaching about size and telling time.

Associated stories

Eric Carle has written numerous other picture books, including Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? (1967), The Very Hungry Caterpillar (1969), The Mixed-Up Chameleon (1975), and Draw Me a Star (1992).