the Bug Girl (a true story)

by the Bug Girl herself, Sophia Spencer, with Margaret McNamara

Summary: A girl named Sophia loves bugs, but struggles to make friends because her peers think she’s weird. Her Mom writes an email to a group of entomologists asking for them to become “bug pals” with Sophia. The overwhelming response from entomologists around the world helps Sophia feel less alone.

Why this is a great book: the Bug Girl reminds children who are different than their peers that they are not alone. It is a story that encourages children to lean into who they are, find their tribe and build community. It is an especially great read for a child who may be feeling pressure to be less than their full self in order to fit in.

As I mentioned last week in my review of The Seven Chinese Sisters, I love a story featuring girls as powerful and capable. As we advance along the elementary school years in my house, a time where children are becoming both more aware of gender stereotypes and feeling more pressure to conform to the norms of their gender, I like to read books like the Bug Girl to remind my son that girls can be into bugs too and that interests do not have to be gender specific. It is also a great way for all children to see girls in science. [For those who are interested, I am hoping to put together a list soon of books that highlights accomplished and capable women in STEM.]

Do you have an inner Bug Girl? Are you still pursuing that interest today? I’d love to hear your stories.