Author-illustrator Braddon Mendelson is a veteran writer/producer, whose credits include television, film, stage and Internet projects. He originally wrote “Have You Seen the Tickle Bug?” as a bedtime story for his son, who had just started kindergarten at the time.

He subsequently read the story to his kid’s entire class. It was an instant hit with the children and their parents, and the teacher encouraged him to get it published. Soon, other teachers began requesting him to read it to their students, as well.

The recent publication of “Have You Seen the Tickle Bug?” has afforded Mr. Mendelson the opportunity to entertain new crops of grade-schoolers with the story of the little purple creature who doesn’t think anyone should ever be “too busy to laugh.”

“I know of nothing more gratifying than reading to kids,” he stated. “It’s deeply rewarding.”