Parents' Guide to Bug Diaries: Halloween Bug-a-Boo!

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Common Sense Media Review

Emily Ashby By Emily Ashby , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 5+

Friendship stands out in book characters' sweet tale.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 5+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 3+

Based on 1 kid review

What's the Story?

In BUG DIARIES: HALLOWEEN BUG-A-BOO!, the spooky holiday arrives, and bug friends Fly (voiced by Abigail Harrison), Worm (Nilah Rivera), and Spider (Logan Smith) are excited about it for different reasons. Worm is hopeful that this will be the year his costume is really scary, but Spider, who scares people on a daily basis, wants a costume that does just the opposite. For Fly, the holiday is all about gathering as much candy as possible, and she's determined to break her record from last year. When the three friends head out for trick-or-treating, nothing goes exactly as planned, but the holiday holds some surprises for each of them anyway.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say ( 1 ):

If this cute holiday special is any indication, Halloween traditions in the insect world are more similar to those of humans than you might expect. Worm's fretting over what to wear is a relatable woe (who hasn't felt the grip of disappointment over a parent's choice of costume?), and Fly's single-minded candy goal is an every-kid thing. There's a spooky neighborhood mystery, an unfortunate costume catastrophe, and a handful of other memorable goings-on worthy of the characters' inevitable diary entries.

Fly, Worm, and Spider are what friendship is all about, and their time together always demonstrates some important truths about what it means to be -- and to have -- a friend. These three are all in for each other; when one has her sights set on something, they all pitch in to make it happen. And when one has feelings he needs to talk about, the others listen, empathize, and propose solutions. Halloween Bug-a-Boo! is a sweet seasonal treat for the characters' young fans and their respective grown-ups.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about their own Halloween traditions. Kids: What are your favorite things to do around this holiday? How do traditions help us make and recall memories?

  • How does Fly embody perseverance in Halloween Bug-a-Boo!? What makes that a valuable character strength? Who do you know whose ability to persevere is something you've seen in action? Does it inspire you?

  • Kids: Have you read (or had read to you) the books that inspired the Bug Diaries series? If so, what do you like about how they were adapted for the screen? What other book adaptations have you seen that you enjoy?

TV Details

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