Bug Diaries
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What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Bug Diaries is an animated series inspired by Doreen Cronin's popular picture books Diary of a Fly, Diary of a Spider, and Diary of a Worm. The show presents the three main characters' experiences primarily as a group, following as Fly, Spider, and Worm go to school, interact with family, and explore the world around their home in a human family's yard. Each story presents one or more of the characters with a problem that must be solved, instigating adventures, creative thinking, and self-reflection that inspires the bugs' insightful diary entries throughout the episodes. Often the content also includes simple facts related to the characters' experiences as bugs (different species have different numbers of legs, for instance) and natural science. Strong themes of friendship, tolerance for diversity, and (especially in the case of spunky Fly) determination emerge from the stories.
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What's the story?
In BUG DIARIES, best friends Fly (voiced by Abigail Dylan Harrison), Spider (Logan Smith), and Worm (Nilah Rivera) share adventures and learn about themselves and their fellow bugs in and around their backyard home. As they play and go to school together, these pals discover ways to put their individual qualities to use and lean on each other to help overcome challenges of their own. Through it all, they record their experiences and feelings in their respective diaries, which helps them process their feelings and identify their personal triumphs.
Is it any good?
Three of Doreen Cronin's most beloved book characters team up to star in this fun series that lets preschoolers see the world from the unique perspectives of three different bugs. Their adventures may be micro-sized, but kids will relate to the challenges and emotions they face as a group and individually. As they put their heads together to explore and experience their world, they deliver adventures filled with humor, friendship, and the thrills of discovery, all while reminding kids that there's much to be learned from seeing the world from another person's (or bug's) point of view.
As in the books that inspired Bug Diaries, Fly, Worm, and Spider often take to their journals to chronicle the events of their day. This small practice speaks volumes to the value of self-expression and personal reflection, and even though the show's target audience is pre-writers, families can use the concept to launch conversations that encourage kids to do the same.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about what the characters write in their diaries and why. How does keeping a record of the things you do and the experiences you have help you identify your triumphs and challenges? Is every one of the bugs' experiences a happy one? Can we learn valuable lessons from the hard times in our lives as well as the happy ones?
What makes Fly, Worm, and Spider alike and what makes them different in Bug Diaries? How do they use their differences to solve problems and help each other? Do their differences ever complicate matters for them? Why is it important to respect differences in people?
Kids: What character strengths do you see in the bugs? How do they demonstrate courage, determination, and perseverance? How do they approach solving problems with creativity?
TV details
- Premiere date: April 12, 2019
- Cast: Abigail Dylan Harrison, Nilah Rivera, Logan Smith
- Network: Amazon Prime Video
- Genre: Kids' Animation
- Topics: Bugs, Friendship, Science and Nature
- Character strengths: Curiosity
- TV rating: TV-Y
- Available on: Streaming
- Award: Common Sense Selection
- Last updated: August 21, 2020
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