Doris Stickney was an author best known for her enduring children's fable Water Bugs and Dragonflies. Originally written to help neighbourhood children understand the death of a young friend, the story uses the metamorphosis of water bugs into dragonflies to address difficult questions about loss.

First published as a book in 1982 following an earlier magazine article, the work became a perennial bestseller. Stickney's compassionate writing has provided comfort and guidance for families navigating grief, supported by editions such as the Water Bugs and Dragonflies Colouring Book.