Children’s Author Uses Bug Book To Counter Body Shaming and Bullying Who would think a story about a lady bug and a roach could teach children to accept other children who are different? Author Laura St John. In her popular children’s book, Don’t Judge a Bug By Its Cover, St John helps a beautiful lady bug see beneath the exterior of an unpopular roach and presents a simple message children of all ages can understand. St John experienced bullying as a child and watched her children’s generation struggle with living up to body images portrayed by the media as perfect. “I have seen girls that were very thin and consider magazine bodies and images of teen girls who they feel that they must measure up to but can’t. I think the trend is getting better but those adolescent years are very important to make kids feel happy with how they look and feel. The bug book teaches kids at a young age to accept physical appearance of others. Young minds hearing the book will eventually be teenagers and hopefully will think back on Mr. Roach and what he went through” said St John. A recent Amazon review summed up the message of Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover nicely, “Perfect book for parents to share with their young children. Addresses one of of the great pressing moral issues in society: judgement and discrimination of others based on looks. The author uses unlikely characters to bring the story to life. Beautifully illustrated.”