Welcome to the unveiling. Many kiddos (and some adults) have asked about Disrespect and Trouble in my upcoming karate picture book. This book will be fourth book in the series. People want to know what kind of monsters will represent these negative traits. I asked for their input on what they consider the most disrespectful and troublesome critters. But, until now, I haven’t disclosed publicly how the monsters will be represented in my next children’s book.

Unveiled: Disrespect and Trouble Monsters

Disrespect is a house fly larva monster. That creature is quite disrespectful in all of its forms of metamorphosis. As adults they are most disrespectful as they repeatedly buzz right in your face. Or land on your food! And what’s more disrespectful and disgusting that finding their larva? Did you know that house flies actually have three larval stages? They look similar in all three, but grow bigger in each.

And Trouble is a root maggot fly larva monster. These insect larvae can be quite troublesome to gardeners, and to farmers too. They eat up plant roots, killing vegetables. Sometimes they kill entire crops!

Yes, the monsters in my next book are maggot monsters. As one of my art editors said, simply, “Gross!” Here, you can see the color test for Disrespect and Trouble. I drafted some ways that the negative traits might appear in the book. Feel free to give your input on which colors you prefer, by naming the corresponding number (for Disrespect) and letter (for Trouble) listed under the monsters.

How do Negative Traits Promote Character Building?

Each book features one or two negative character traits which are represented by colorful monsters. These monsters cause problems in the main characters’ lives. When children become familiar with the stories, they learn how to recognize the negative traits. And then they also learn how to fight these monsters in real life. That is one way that my books help with children’s character building.

-Jenifer Tull-Gauger