The Bug Girl: A True Story
by Sophia Spencer (Author)
Real-life 7-year-old Sophia Spencer was bullied for loving bugs until hundreds of women scientists rallied around her. Now Sophie tells her inspiring story in this picture book that celebrates women in science, bugs of all kinds, and the importance of staying true to yourself.
Sophia Spencer has loved bugs ever since a butterfly landed on her shoulder--and wouldn't leave!--at a butterfly conservancy when she was only two-and-a-half years old. In preschool and kindergarten, Sophia was thrilled to share what she knew about grasshoppers (her very favorite insects), as well as ants and fireflies... but by first grade, not everyone shared her enthusiasm. Some students bullied her, and Sophia stopped talking about bugs altogether. When Sophia's mother wrote to an entomological society looking for a bug scientist to be a pen pal for her daughter, she and Sophie were overwhelmed by the enthusiastic response--letters, photos, and videos came flooding in. Using the hashtag BugsR4Girls, scientists tweeted hundreds of times to tell Sophia to keep up her interest in bugs--and it worked! Sophia has since appeared on Good Morning America, The Today Show, and NPR, and she continues to share her love of bugs with others.
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School Library Journal
K-Gr 3--Fourth grader Sophia Spencer has always been fascinated with bugs. At first, Sophia's peers championed her joyful obsession, but by first grade, their encouragement turned to derisive cries of "Ew! Gross!" Following a particularly upsetting bullying incident, the young girl "took a break from bugs," prompting her worried mother to contact a group of entomologists. Neither mom nor daughter expected the outpouring of support from the scientific community, along with the birth of a viral hashtag (#BugsR4Girls) and requests for media appearances. Sophia eventually regained her enthusiasm and was ready to "get the word out that it's okay to love bugs." The book concludes with "Sophia's Big Book of Bugs," a browsable collection of facts and advice for fellow bug fans. Gentle ink and watercolor artwork by illustration team Kerascoët subtly reinforces the book's upbeat tone, especially during the outdoor scenes filled with fresh botanical greens and tiny, delicate insects. While very few children can expect to achieve viral fame, many young readers will appreciate the validation Spencer received. VERDICT Books about real-life kid scientists are rare, and there's always a need for stories about girls and women in STEM. A book that fulfills both needs with charm to spare.--Rebecca Honeycutt, NoveList, Durham, NC
Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
Entomology
Spencer, Sophia
