The Bad-Tempered Ladybird original story by Eric Carle

APHIDS (Ya Chong); These small insects kill the leaves on plants and flowers. Farmers love ladybirds because they eat aphids.

At 5 O’Clock two ladybirds arrives at the same leaves covered with aphids. The one on the right was friendly and wanted to share. The one on the left was bad-tempered and wanted to fight for all of the aphids. He flew off in a bad temper.

At 6 O’Clock he met a wasp. He asked him “Do you want to fight?” and the wasp said “If you insist!” But the bad tempered ladybird left saying “You are not big enough!“ and flew off.

At 7 O’Clock he met a Stag Beetle. “Do you want to fight?” he said. “If you insist” snapped the stag beetle. But the ladybird said “You are not big enough!” and flew off.

At 8 O’Clock he met a Praying Mantis. “Do you want to fight?” he said. “If you insist” said the Praying Mantis moving his legs toward the ladybird. “You’re not big enough!” he said and flew away.

At 9 O’Clock he met a Sparrow. “Do you want to fight” said the ladybird. “If you insist” said the Sparrow opening its sharp beak. “You’re not big enough!” he said and flew off.

At 10 O’Clock he met a Lobster. “Want to fight?” said the ladybird. “If you insist” said the lobster clicking his claws. “You’re not big enough!” he said and flew off.

At 11 O’Clock he met a skunk. “Want to fight?” said the ladybird. “If you insist” said the skunk raising his tail. “You’re not big enough!” said the ladybird and flew off.

At 12 O’Clock he met a boa constrictor (snake for younger children) “Do you want to fight?” asked the ladybird. “If you insist”, said the snake, “right after lunch” (which was the squirrel.) But the ladybird said, “You’re not big enough!” and he flew away.

At 1 O’Clock he met a hyena. “Do you want to fight?” he asked. “If you insist.” said the hyena laughing and showing his sharp teeth. “You’re not big enough!” said the ladybird and flew away.

At 2 O’Clock he met a gorilla. “Do you want to fight?’ asked the ladybird. “If you insist” said the gorilla beating his chest. “You’re not big enough!” said the ladybird and flew away.

At 3 O’Clock he met a rhino. “Do you want to fight?” asked the ladybird.“If you insist.” said the rhino lowering his horn. “You’re not big enough!” said the ladybird and flew away.

At 4 O’Clock he met an elephant. “Do you want to fight?” he asked “If you insist” said the elephant raising his trunk. “You’re not big enough!” said the ladybird and flew away.

At 5 O’Clock he met a whale. “Do you want to fight?” said the ladybird. But the whale did not answer.

15 minutes later the ladybird flew to the whales’ flipper. “Do you want to fight?” he said, but the whale did not say anything.

At 5:30 the ladybird flew to the whale’s fin. “Do you want to fight?” He said, but the whale did not say anything.

At 5:45 the ladybird flew to the whale’s tail. “Do you want to fight?” he asked. But the whale did not say anything, instead he SLAPPED the ladybird with his tail.

The ladybird flew across the ocean, across the land until he landed back with the friendly ladybird.

At 6:00 he landed on the leaf. “I thought you would be back” said the friendly ladybird. “ I saved some aphids for you, you must be hungry.” “Thank you” said the bad-tempered ladybird. “You are welcome” said the friendly ladybird. And” thank you” said the leaf to both of the ladybirds.