Every Kid Should Be a BugyBop

I was delighted earlier this week when I received a surprise in the mail from children’s author Amy Recob. I like surprises! Amy sent me a copy of her award-winning children’s book, The Bugabees: Friends With Food Allergies, as well as the latest addition to the series, The BugyBops.

The first book, complete with colorful and captivating illustrations, is about a set of characters who have food allergies – each unique – but all who are happy and have fun despite their food restrictions. It is simply delightful.

When I met Amy a few weeks ago, she explained that she also needed to write a book for her second, non-food-allergic child, and the BugyBops was born.

The BugyBops focuses on the friends of the BugaBees (who incidentally are all bugs or insects of varying species). The BugyBops look out for their friends, they protect them, they are the children’s version of what Allergic Girl author Sloane Miller would call “safe friends.” BugyBops make changes in their own diets so their friends can stay safe, they speak for their friends when they need to, and they wouldn’t think of doing anything that can harm their friends.

Whether it’s a sibling, a friend, or just a classmate, every child should be a BugyBop. As parents, we should teach our children to be BugyBops, just like we teach them to hold the door open for the person behind them.

One of the things I really appreciate about these books is that they are appropriate for children of all ages; they are great read-aloud books, but also appropriate for children to read on their own, as they get older. And the activities and talking point sections in each book are perfect tools for parents, grandparents, educators, or caregivers to help children understand the importance of food allergies.

Let’s all be BugyBops!