Flora the ladybug slept snugly on a soft, emerald green leaf.

Her dreams were always full of bright sunshine and sweet flower scents.

The morning dew sparkled like tiny diamonds on her rose bush home.

Flora stretched her tiny legs, feeling ready for a new day.

Flora: “Oh, what a truly lovely day!”

She loved her shiny red wings and the seven perfect black spots on them.

Flora decided to look at her pretty reflection in a big dewdrop.

The dewdrop showed a plain, smooth red ladybug.

Flora: “My spots! Where did they go?”

Her beautiful black spots were completely, surprisingly gone!

Flora: “Oh dear, my favorite spots!”

She felt a little bit wobbly and quite sad without her familiar pattern.

Flora bravely flew to a big, sunny daisy patch, hoping to find answers.

There she saw Winnie the wise old caterpillar slowly munching a tender green leaf.

Flora: “Winnie, my spots? Have you seen them?”

Winnie: “Spots? Hmm, no black spots on my leaf today.”

Flora sighed a little puff of air and continued her important search.

Next, she fluttered into a cool, calm, shady fern grove.

A gentle, shimmering butterfly named Breeze zipped gracefully past her.

Flora: “Breeze, have you seen my missing spots?”

Breeze: “Seen what, little red friend?”

Flora: “My beautiful, round black spots!”

Breeze: “You are still lovely, with or without them.”

Flora felt a tiny bit brighter and a little more hopeful inside.

Flora paused and looked closely at her plain red wings again.

The warm afternoon sun made her smooth wings shine with a gentle glow.

Flora: “I am still Flora, the same happy me!”

She realized her true sparkle came from her kind heart, not her spots.

Just then, a tiny, faint speck of black appeared on her left wing.

Feeling warm and sleepy, Flora flew back to her cozy, soft leaf bed.

As she drifted to sleep, her first spot slowly returned, like a sleepy, growing star.