Mónica Menezes (CCFAS2020), 2020: "Este livro ilustrado que conta a história de uma formiga feia que se mascara para ser diferente explora questões-chave presentes no programa da educação para a #cidadania e desenvolvimento implementados atualmente nas nossas escolas. Apresenta uma proposta para pensar em grupo, para dialogar e para refletir no que não aceitamos em nós próprios e no que tememos no olhar dos outros, porque sentimos o desejo de agradar e de ser aceites.
Destinado a crianças, este livro, que já foi traduzido em muitas línguas, apresenta uma narrativa simples, mas fortemente imagética, propícia a diversas dinâmicas de grupo e a atividades de comunicação e de expressão.
Numa perspetiva de abordagem dos temas da inclusão, a história permite equacionar o problema da identidade e da diferença, a #perceção do corpo e da #consciência de si, fazendo apelo ao espírito de tolerância e ao sentimento de pertença a um grupo.
Relembrando as palavras de Boaventura Sousa Santos, “é preciso que tenhamos o direito de sermos diferentes quando a igualdade nos descaracteriza e o direito de sermos iguais quando a diferença nos inferioriza.
Esta história infantil parece ser ideal para introduzir o gosto da leitura e para aceder a valores interpessoais de forma lúdica." ( )

I really enjoyed reading The Very Ugly Bug. The illustrations were eye-catching and on spot with the text of the book. There were even arrows that pointed from the text to the part of the illustration it was describing-a good tool for younger readers. My favorite part of the book is that this is not an ugly duckling turns into a beautiful swan type of story. It is more of an accepting who you are and finding beauty in your differences kind of story. What’s also great is that it pulls a little of biology in to the story- bugs have different ways to survive because they are generally food for birds. It’s a nice feel good story that children will enjoy reading for the humor as well as the message: there is beauty in everything, even if it isn’t the same kind of beauty. ( )

I would use this book to teach theme. I think students will like this book becasue it is about a bug that learns to accept herself. ( )

The story follows an "ugly bug" who doesn't quite understand why she is the ugliest of them all. She asks all the other bugs why they have the qualities they do and they all responded so that they can hide from the birds. The ugly bug tries to disguise herself but instead she only attracts the bird. However, her true ugliness scares the bird away and makes the ugly bug confident of her looks. Very cute story! I definitely think young readers would have fun reading this piece so I will have it in my classroom! :)

There once was a very ugly bug, with spotted legs, googly eyes and a horrible hairy back. She wonders why her friends have pretty small eyes, shiny green backs, or nice fluttery wings. The ugly bug thought that if she looked like her friends, then she would be more beautiful. So she made herself a disguise. But her new costume made her even tastier looking to the birds! When a bird swoops down to gobble up the disguised ugly bug, something strange happens... The big scare made the very ugly bug even uglier! So ugly in fact, that the bird was scared away. The ugly bug learns that just being herself is the best defense. Liz Pichon's witty text and colorful artwork highlight this story about self-acceptance -- GoodReads