Christopher's Caterpillars

Christopher Nibble #2

by Charlotte Middleton

Christopher Nibble is so busy tending his dandelion patch that it's starting to take over his life and he doesn't even have time for football any more. Then he meets his new neighbour, Posie. She offers to help him out in the garden. When the dandelion seedlings start being nibbled by caterpillars, it's Posie's idea to keep them as pets. Mr Rosetti from the café gives them some empty sweet jars and Christopher and Posie feed their furry caterpillars and watch them grow. But one morning Christopher and Posie can't see any caterpillars in their jars. They have disappeared! Quite desperate, they make 'missing' posters and put them up all over Dandeville. It takes Mr Rosetti to reveal the miracle of metamorphosis to the two bereft guinea pigs. After the mystery is solved, Christopher and Posie's lost-and-found posters showing brightly coloured caterpillars and butterflies delight all the guinea pigs of Dandeville when they are displayed in a special exhibition at the art gallery. A contemporary environmental tale set in a wonderfully surreal world where guinea pigs drink cappuccino, play football, and visit art galleries!

Genres: Picture Books, Animals

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Bookread2day · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christopher Nibble is a brand new colourful series. Christopher is a guinea pig who loves dandelions, gardening . He has a new Guinea pig friend Posie, that both find caterpillars to keep as pets.

This well told educational story unfolds, in an easy way for children to follow and understand.

This story may influence children to look after caterpillars and watch them grow into butterflies. I think this delightful book would be great in infant schools, that could set a classroom an exciting project.

[Nicola Malloch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much Graffeg for gifting us a paperback copy of 'Christopher's caterpillars' in  exchange for an honest review. This is our second book about Christopher the guinea pig and they are just adorable, Autumn and I love the illustration style and the way the guinea pigs have clothes on is so sweet. The story is lovely about the transformation of caterpillars and how losing things isn't always a bad thing, also at the back of the book is a fact file on caterpillars and a guide on caring for them.

"When you lose a caterpillar, you find a butterfly"

[Jenna Mills · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shows a little of how caterpillars transform to butterflies

[Željko Filipin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christopher's pet caterpillars are missing.

[Holly Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christopher's Caterpillars is a beautifully illustrated book about a guinea pig called Christopher and his friend Posie.

They decide to keep six caterpillars as pets to stop them munching Christopher's prize winning dandelions. They are puzzled when one day the caterpillars disappear and with the help of their friend Mr Rosetti, they discover that they have turned into butterflies.

As well as being a lovely story to read to children, this is also very informative and could be used to introduce minibeasts and the life cycle to a year one class. It would be a great starting point to get children to think about the habitats that minibeasts might need.

[Library Quine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christopher and Posie are friends (and hamsters) and share lots of interests, including gardening. They are puzzled when they find some caterpillars eating their precious dandelions and make a plan to look after them away from the garden and their beloved plants. Although they make a list and follow Mr Rosetti's good advice, the caterpillars disappear one day. The friends make wanted posters for their caterpillar pets, but it is Mr Rosetti who solves the mystery. A fun tale with several examples of using writing and drawing to plan and communicate.