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by
Christina Weigand
Ana played in her playhouse next to Mama’s rose garden. A ladybug landed on the windowsill of her
playhouse. “Mama, Mama, look at the bug! Can I play with it? I like the spots on ladybugs. They are so cute.”
“No, Ana,” Mama replied. “I know they’re cute, but look, they’re all over my roses and I’ll have to call the
bugman to get rid of them.”
“Here, little ladybug, you stay in my purse. I’ll find a place for you to stay.” Ana ran to the house, catching up
with Mama, “Mama, where do ladybugs live?”
“Hmm I really don’t know sweetie, but I’d rather they didn’t live in my roses,” Mama replied. “Why don’t you
get ready to go to the beach, remember?”
“Yahoo. I’ll get my swimming suit.” Ana ran to her room before Mama could catch her and pulled a box out
from under her bed. “Here ladybug, you can stay here and the bugman won’t get you. I’ll find out where you
live. We’re going to the beach. Maybe, we’ll find a home for you there.” She put the box in her beach bag.
When they arrived, Ana jumped out of the car. “Mama, I’m going to build a sand castle.” She looked in the box
and whispered, “Maybe you can live here.”
Ana filled her little bucket with sand and water; then spent the afternoon building her sandcastle. Soon her
castle was huge, with many doors and windows.
“Here, ladybug. Would you like this for your new home?” Ana set the ladybug on one of the towers. The
ladybug sat on the tower for a few seconds then opened her wings and flew back to the box.
“Don’t you like the castle I built for you?” Ana asked as the tide rolled in and washed the sand away.
Tears rolled down Ana’s cheeks. “Mama, the ocean took ladybug’s new home.”
“Ana, don’t cry honey. It’s only a bug. Come on, it’s time to go home.”
When they got home, Ana tucked the ladybug underneath her bed. “Don’t worry ladybug. Tomorrow we will
find a home for you. The bugman won’t get you. I promise.”
When Ana woke up the next morning she asked “Mama, where do ladybugs live?”
“Sweet pea, I already told you I don’t know.” Mama replied.
“Maybe we could go to the library and ask the librarian.” Ana suggested.
“That sounds like a good idea. After you finish your breakfast we’ll go.”
At the library, Ana ran up to the librarian’s desk. “Excuse me Mrs. Smith, could you tell me where ladybugs
live?”
“Well, Ana, I don’t know for sure,” Mrs. Smith answered. “I’m sure we can find a book that will tell us. Come
on, let’s go over to the science section and see what we can find.” Ana
and Mrs. Smith walked over to the children’s section and soon were looking through books about bugs. “Look,
here is one all about ladybugs.”
Ana and Mrs. Smith looked through the book and found out where ladybugs lived and what they ate.
When Ana got home she ran to her room and got the ladybug. She got Mama and they went out to the rose
garden. Ana set the ladybug on a rose.
“Why are you doing that, Ana? That bug will eat my roses.”
“No Mama. Ladybugs don’t eat flowers. They eat the bugs that eat your flowers. Mama they are good for
your flowers and that is where they live. So we don’t need the bugman, we have the ladybugs to take care of
your roses.”
