Do you remember reading the Sneetches by Dr. Seuss? He taught us an important lesson about
differences: “Sneetches are Sneetches. And no kind of Sneetch is the best
on the beaches.” In his
classic tale, Sneetches learn their lesson by being ripped off by Sylvester
McMonkey McBean.
A similar lesson is being taught in The Green Lady Bug by Zachariah
Rippee. Like the children Sneetches who won’t let Sneetches without stars play
ball in the Seuss story, red ladybugs refuse to let a green ladybug play with them because she is different.
The green lady bug applies the principle found in Mathew 5:44 “Love your
enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you…” She saves
the red lady bugs after they have been caught in a jar. This kindness gives the
red lady bugs a change of heart.
This little sing-songy story has 2 great lessons for
children. The first is to be kind even to those who don’t like you. The second
is to treat others who are different as you the same as you would someone who
was like you.
Racism and hate are causing much pain and grief in our
society today. How much better our world would be if our children learned to
treat everyone with kindness? I would recommend this book to be read to
children as one way to help teach this to our children.
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