The Bad-Tempered Ladybird in Kent Click on the book to move through the story

It was night time and some glow worms danced around in the hedgerow by the light of the moon.

At 5 o’clock in the morning the warm sun came up and shone on a leaf. A friendly ladybird was sitting on the leaf eating his breakfast. He was having aphids. Delicious! Just then the Bad Tempered Ladybird saw the aphids on the leaf.

“Hello”, said the friendly ladybird. “Go away”, said the Bad Tempered Ladybird. “These aphids are all mine. Or do you want to fight me for them?” “Hello”, said the friendly ladybird. “Oh you are not big enough for me”, said the Bad Tempered Ladybird and he flew off. “If you insist”, said the friendly ladybird.

At 6 o’clock the Bad Tempered Ladybird met a wasp. 6:00am At 6 o’clock the Bad Tempered Ladybird met a wasp. “Hey you”, said the Bad Tempered Ladybird, “want a fight?” “If you insist”, said the wasp showing his stinger. “Oh you are not big enough for me”, said the Bad Tempered Ladybird and he flew off.

At 8 o’clock the Bad Tempered Ladybird met a stag beetle. 8:00am “If you insist”, said the stag beetle showing his sharp jaws. “Hey you”, said the Bad Tempered Ladybird “Want a fight?” “oh you are not big enough for me”, said the Bad Tempered Ladybird and he flew off.

“If you insist”, said the kestrel showing its sharp beak. At 10 o’clock the Bad Tempered Ladybird met a kestrel. 10:00am “If you insist”, said the kestrel showing its sharp beak. “Hey you”, said the Bad tempered Ladybird, “want a fight?” “Oh you are not big enough for me”, said the Bad Tempered Ladybird and he flew off.

“If you insist”, said the adder showing its sharp poisonous fangs. At 12 o’clock the Bad Tempered Ladybird met an adder. 12:00pm “If you insist”, said the adder showing its sharp poisonous fangs. “Hey you”, said the Bad Tempered Ladybird, “want a fight?” “Oh you are not big enough for me”, said the Bad Tempered Ladybird and he flew off.

“If you insist”, said the crab showing its sharp claws. At 2 o’clock the Bad Tempered Ladybird met a crab. 2:00pm “If you insist”, said the crab showing its sharp claws. “Hey you”, said the Bad Tempered Ladybird, “want a fight?” “Oh you are not big enough for me”, said the Bad Tempered Ladybird and he flew off.

At 4 o’clock the Bad Tempered Ladybird went swimming and met a jellyfish. 4:00pm “If you insist”, said the jellyfish raising his tentacles covered stings. “Hey you”, said the Bad tempered Ladybird, “want a fight?” “Oh you are not big enough for me”, said the Bad Tempered Ladybird and he swam off.

At 5 o’clock the Bad Tempered Ladybird met a seal. 5:00pm “Hey you”, said the Bad Tempered Ladybird, “Want a fight?” But the seal didn’t answer. “Oh you are not big enough for me”, said the Bad Tempered Ladybird and he flew off.

At half past 5 the Bad Tempered Ladybird met the seal’s flipper. 5.30pm “Hey you”, said the Bad Tempered Ladybird, “want a fight?” But he got no reply so he flew off.

At 6 o’clock the Bad Tempered Ladybird met the seal’s tail. 6.00pm At 6 o’clock the Bad Tempered Ladybird met the seal’s tail. “Hey you”, said the Bad Tempered Ladybird, “want a fight?” And the seal’s tail gave the Bad Tempered Ladybird such a slap that he flew back across Kent and landed…

…back on the leaf where he started! The friendly ladybird was still there. “Oh hello”, said the friendly ladybird, “there are some aphids left. Would you like to share them?” “Thank you”, said the Bad Tempered Ladybird, who was very tired and hungry.

Soon all the aphids were gone. “Thank you” said the leaf! Then the ladybirds went to sleep…

…and the glow worms came out and danced by the light of the moon. “Thank you” said the leaf! …and the glow worms came out and danced by the light of the moon.

THE END