Introduction

Rick Garcia has written and illustrated a unique picture book, equally appealing to both children and adults. The story is about three friends who, during one uncommon winter, take advantage of a frozen lake and build a swimming deck for when summer returns. It explores the bonds of friendship and the humble origins of a popular road game known across the country.

The illustrations are bright and colorful, with prose simple enough for early readers to enjoy on their own. The story’s steady pacing makes it well suited for reading aloud, and adults may find themselves “sneak reading” Saved By a Bug after the kids are asleep.

Enjoy the excerpt, and perhaps pick up a copy of Saved By a Bug to find out what happens, and how the game, Slug Bug, began.

You can also find two of Rick C. Garcia’s complete stories, Her Little Family and In the Blink of an Eye in the Free Library.