This short book for very young children is very sweet. It tells the
story of Leo, a lighting bug who can’t make himself light up. His friends
make fun of his efforts, and he feels very silly and embarrassed. But with
practice he succeeds, and he manages to laugh with his friends about what
happened.

The illustrations are very nicely done, in delicate and luminous colors
that do well conveying the night scenes. The book comes with a CD of the
story being read by the author and others, which may come in handy if on
occasions when you are not able to read to your child yourself.

The theme of the book is about building self-confidence and not letting
the opinion of other people get you down. The story is fun and makes its
point well. This is probably not a book that your children will cherish
for years and years, but they will probably like it.

© 2001 Christian Perring. First Serial Rights.

Christian Perring,
Ph.D., is Chair of the Philosophy Department at Dowling College,
Long Island. He is editor of Metapsychology Online Review.
His main research is on philosophical issues in psychiatry.
He is especially interested in exploring how philosophers can
play a greater role in public life. He is available to give talks
on many philosophical or controversial issues in mental health.

Categories: Fiction

Tags: Child and Adolescent Development