Long before children's author and illustrator Leslie Rose wrote Awesomebuggies, she was just a little girl in Texas who enjoyed searching for bugs in her backyard. Okay, 'searching' is an understatement. She loved bugs, outside and inside her home, much to pretty much everyone else's disgust. There is VHS home movie evidence (because she's that old) of her playing in the corner with roly polies at her own birthday party and inviting the clown to join in the fun (instead of partaking in her birthday celebration), and of her lounging on the couch watching TV while petting a cicada. And once, she and her younger sister released a family of aphids onto their bunk beds (SLEEPOVER TIME!), unaware of their very impressive breeding capabilities. The love bug stories go on.. and on.. and on... Besides bugs, Leslie loved to draw—especially her own cartoon characters—whether it was on paper, her arms and hands (shocking she doesn't have tattoos), and all over her walls at home, which remain there to this day! She had an extremely active imagination that often came out in her art, and according to her mom, when Leslie was asked to draw something during a kindergarten private school observation, the school commented that her imagination may be 'too vivid'—whatever that means. Anyways, like with all humans, Leslie had to grow up (to a degree), real-life took over, and it wasn't until 2020 that she had the time and creative energy to sit down, breathe, and just...draw. So, naturally, a little ant named Antsley Hill was born, and it was as if ideas just started pouring out onto the page! This ant, who was basically a coral-colored version of Leslie with two different sized antennae because nobuggy's perfect, duh, became so therapeutic, and was transformative in helping Leslie through a very important and necessary period of self-discovery. For the first time in her 30+ years of living, thanks to Antsley, Leslie realized that being a sensitive, quirky, creative introvert (or in Antsley's case, an anxious, antsy 'antrovert'), was an incredible quality! There are about 200 semi-autobiographical Antsley comics, and one even went viral, although Leslie likes to keep a low profile (writing about herself or anything personal is, just like it would be for Antsley, very uncomfortable!!). Antsley's content was going very strong, and is still very special to Leslie. But then, 'somebuggy' very, very awesome came into her life, and Awesomebuggies was born!
THE BEGINNING:
ANTSLEY HILL
ALL ABOUT
Awesomebuggies
Due to her professional background in children's media, and her experience as a mom, Leslie knows the power of a good children's book. Over the past few years, thanks to one very special young human in her life, her eyes have been opened to the world of neurodiversity, and specifically the twice-exceptional (2e) brain.
Leslie felt that this exceptional person could benefit from a memorable, funny, and good quality children's book filled with characters like them, and that through this book, many other young readers would realize their own potential, and well, awesomeness!
what's a somebuggy?
some·bugg·y pronoun a buggy with an exceptional brain, unique abilities, interests, and challenges. Another huge reason Leslie wrote Awesomebuggies was to show that being different is an amazing quality! The special person previously mentioned would sometimes copy others' behavior instead of being themself, especially when uncomfortable. Therefore, a noticeable theme throughout the book is the often hilarious friction between the 'everybuggies' (buggies who basically do things the conventional way), and the somebuggies. Leslie wanted the somebuggies to clearly exhibit the pride and confidence they had for their differences. 'Some' buggies DO sing nonstop, spin constantly, need space, have a brain going 500 mph, or have very specific, special interests. And, they are 'somebuggy' important, special, and awesome! She also wanted them to have a name they could essentially shout from the rooftops each time an everybuggy questioned them, leading to 'SOMEBUGGIES!' being exclaimed many times throughout the book.
WHAT'S AN
AWESOMEBUGGY?
You'll just have to read the book to find out!
who is this book for?
Everybuggy! But seriously, beyond its primary audience of elementary-aged children who are neurodivergent, 2e, and anyone who has always just felt a bit 'differANT' (like Antsley), Awesomebuggies is also for anyone who wants to better UNDERSTAND, SUPPORT, and LISTEN TO those who feel like somebuggies. Spoiler alert: a turning point in the book comes when Buzzy explains to Lady Doodle Dot that she should be proud of her artwork and show it to the everybuggies, and by doing so, it may help the world become a more understanding place. Why exactly does he say this, and what did she draw? You'll have to read the book to find out, but whether you are a parent, grandparent, caretaker, sibling, friend, or an ally, you could definitely benefit from reading this book ... and then share it with a friend by attaching it to a balloon with some slime (if you know, you know!)!
