X
Thanda > Learning Library > Lara the Yellow Ladybird

Self-Esteem

Age 3 to 12 Years

Lara the Yellow Ladybird

by Martha Evans (Writer), Nadene Kriel (Designer), Ester Levinrad (Editor) & Catherine Holtzhauser (Illustrator)

Lara is born with yellow wings while all of her family and friends have red wings. Even though everyone else likes Lara’s yellow wings, she just wants to fit in and be normal. When Lara’s mother paints her wings red to cheer Lara up, nobody recognizes Lara so they just ignore her. Join Lara as she learns a valuable lesson about being comfortable in your own skin and the importance of diversity.

Self Esteem

Age 3 - 12 Years

Download the Book
STORY STUDY FACILITATOR RESOURCES PACK

Let's get Creative

Explore 5 Fun Activities to do at Home

Activity 1: Making a Card for Someone Special

Step 1

You will need crayons or paint, 2 pieces of paper, scissors, glue, pencil, eraser and natural things (soil, twigs, shells, etc.)

Step 2

Use your materials to start making your card.

Step 3

Be creative like Lara and use bright colours and patterns….

Step 4

Complete your card and present it.

Activity 2: Favourite Book Page Recreation

Step 1

You will need a few pieces of paper, crayons or coloured pencils and markers.

Step 2

Take an A4 piece of paper, go around to find different textures and place the paper on each and colour over to get the texture of it.

Step 3

Choose your favorite page from the book and start to recreate it using the papers with different textures.

Step 4

Complete your page and present it. 

Activity 3: Memory Card Game

Step 1

You will need 2 printouts of ladybird’s, crayons, 2 pieces of A4 cardboard, glue and a pair of scissors.

PRINT ME

Step 2

Start colouring your 2 pages of ladybirds in the same way.

Step 3

Complete your colouring and paste your papers on a piece of cardboard.

Step 4

Cut out the cards and randomly place them facing down in front of you.

Step 5

Play your card. Try to find the matching cards and take turns with your partner.

Activity 4: Self-Portrait

Step 1

You will need crayons or pencil crayons, piece of paper, pencil (for older children) and an eraser (optional).

Step 2

Draw and colour in your self-portrait on a piece of paper.

Step 3

Complete your self-portrait and present it.

Activity 5: Spinning Top Illusion

Step 1

For this activity, you will need a copy of Spinning Illusion printout, a piece of cardboard, crayons or colouring in pencils, a coin (R5 or R2), glue and pair of scissors.

PRINT ME

Step 2

Colour the wheel in different colours.

Step 3

Paste your wheel on a piece of cardboard.

Step 4

Cut the circle out from cardboard.

Step 5

Carefully make a hole for a coin at the center of your circle and put in the coin.

Step 6

Spin your top to see different colours making one colour which is white.

Discuss the story together:

Comprehension Questions to ask children:

  • Do Lara’s friends like her yellow wings?  How do we know?  How, exactly, do they describe Lara’s wings?
  • Is Lara the only unique ladybird at her school?  Who else does Miss Miya describe as unique?  What is unique about each of these ladybirds?
  • At the end of the story what colours does Lara think about painting her wings?
  • Who paints Lara’s wings red?
  • Who does Lara meet on her way to school?
  • What colour are Lara’s mother’s wings?  
  • How does Lara get the red paint off of her wings?
  • What does Lara paint on her wings at the end of the story?

Discussion Questions to ask children:

  • The book claims that “everyone loved her yellow wings” and that “at school she played with lots of friends”.  If this is the case, then why is Lara unhappy?
  • Why is it hard for Lara to feel different to the other ladybugs?  She seems to want to sacrifice being special and unique for being a part of the herd.  Why is it so important to most of us to fit in?  
  • Everyone in the story seems to embrace Lara even though she is different, is this always the case in real life?  Why are we sometimes mean to people who are different?  
  • How might this story help us think about albinism?  Are we always as embracing as Lara’s community when it comes to being born a different color?
  • Most people see Lara’s wings as beautiful and special but she doesn’t see it that way (at least she doesn’t see it that way at the beginning of the story).  How can this story help us think about the proverb, “the grass is always greener on the other side”?
  • What lesson does Lara learn at the end of the story?  How does she realize this?  What advice does Miss Maya give Lara that changes her mind about her unique wings? 

Lara decides not to paint her wings again, except for fun.  Why does she leave a caveat for fun in her ban on wing painting?  What is the difference between trying a new color wing just for fun, and tying it the way Lara did in the beginning of the story?  Why does the story end with Lara painting her wings with stars and rainbows?  How does this reinforce the message of the importance of uniqueness?

  • When Lara shows up with her wings painted red why don’t people greet her?  Are they trying to snub her?  Is it possible that they just don’t recognize her?
  • Why does Lara’s mom paint her wings red?  What do you think Lara’s mom thought was going to happen to Lara once she painted her wings?  Do you think this was good parenting?  Why or why not?  What would you have done if Lara was your child?
CHOOSE ANOTHER BOOK