Thalia Brown and the blue bug

the long version

This is a book about a young girl, Thalia, who lives in Chicago with her family. She feels that her family doesn't listen to her. Through drawing a blue bug on the concrete, she begins to take an interest in expressing herself through art. A friendly neighbor helps by supplying some art supplies, and an artist is born. Her family sees her work, and they also are drawn into her new found expressions. She creates a picture of "Thalia and the Blue Bug" and enters the drawing in a local art contest. We don't know if she wins a ribbon or not. It doesn't really matter though, as Thalia's self image has changed and the perceptions of her family towards her have changed as well. I recommend the book. Read it to a child, and watch the wheels spin!