The endearing new children's book “BUG: The Story of a Special Bug and His Little Boy” by author and educator Dr. Janis Pardue Hill will inspire parents and educators looking for meaningful ways to celebrate love and compassion as Valentine's Day and Kindness Week draw near. This charming story serves as a reminder to readers that deeds of kindness can begin with something as small as an insect and still have a significant impact.
Rooted in real-life events, “BUG” tells the heartwarming tale of a tiny insect and a young boy who discovers him on his family's patio. Moved by their love for all living creatures, the boy and his father begin caring for their little visitor by setting out food for him each day. As “Bug” continues to return, a quiet and meaningful friendship blossoms, one rooted in curiosity, kindness, and connection. When Hill learned of her son and grandson's real-life encounter with this “special bug,” she felt compelled to share their story, reminding readers of the power of love, respect, and finding beauty in life's smallest moments.
“Children naturally notice and care for living things,” Janis explains. “This story helps them understand that their kindness whether toward a classmate, a pet, or even a 'bug' has the power to make the world brighter.” Through tender narration and vivid illustrations, Hill transforms a seemingly ordinary moment into an extraordinary lesson in empathy, making “BUG” a perfect companion for Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) initiatives and classroom discussions.
“BUG” encourages kids to celebrate love in its most basic manifestations, making it perfect for Valentine's Day or Kindness Week activities. The story can be incorporated by educators and parents into worthwhile activities that go beyond reading time. Classrooms could start “Observation Journals” to document tiny acts of noticing in nature, build an “Acts of Kindness Chart” to track daily deeds, or establish a “Kindness Garden” where students discuss methods to show concern for others and the environment. These exercises provide educators innovative ways to promote empathy, awareness, and respect for all living things, all of which are in perfect harmony with the book's themes.
“BUG: The Story of a Special Bug and His Little Boy” is now available. Grab your copy at www.amazon.com..
Subscribe and watch the adventures come to life on YouTube. Join “BUG” and his little boy friend for fun, laughter, and heartwarming lessons in every story: Bug and Little Boy Adventures.
Episode 1: Bug and the Garden of Life and more.
About the Author
Janis Pardue Hill, PhD, a retired university professor and lifelong educator, holds a BS in English education, an MA in literature, and a PhD in Curriculum Theory. She has taught in secondary and university classrooms, as a Program Coordinator in the Louisiana Department of Education, and as a Curriculum Coordinator in the Ouachita Parish School System.
Dr. Hill retired from Louisiana Tech University in 2010 to dedicate herself to family, with the publication of her father's notes and journals her top priority. She spent the last two years of her father's life talking with him and interviewing him about the plethora of journals and notes he had recorded after he returned from the war about his experiences on the Bataan Death March and in Japanese POW camps. That memoir, entitled Telling His Story: POW #1000 The Bataan Death March and Japanese POW Camps, was published on December 2, 2022; and since that time, Dr. Hill has spoken at numerous events, including the 2023 Louisiana Book Fair where the memoir was one of the featured books. Telling His Story: POW #1000 is currently in republication. “BUG: The Story of a Special Bug and His Little Boy” is her first children's book.
Dr. Hill and her husband, Charles A. Hill, Jr., have two children, Trey and Amy; three grandchildren, Jack Hill, Harper Bourgeois and Emma Bourgeois; and a son-in-law Bartley Bourgeois. Dr. Hill and her husband live in North Louisiana.
— WebWireID347295 —
