Caterpillar, Caterpillar

Read and Wonder

by Vivian French, Charlotte Voake (Illustrator)

A young girl's visit to her grandfather's garden prompts a study of the life cycle of a caterpillar as it is transformed into a butterfly.

Genres: Picture Books, Science, Nonfiction, Biology, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Vivian June Isoult French MBE was born in 1945 and educated at Exeter University.
Vivian French was best known in school for being extremely skinny and for talking a lot. At school she developed an attachment to words and later became an actor, then a storyteller, and finally a writer of children's books. She is the author of more than two hundred books. Ms. French lives in Edinburgh, Scotland, and has four grown daughters.

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book reminds me of my garden I had. I had a nettle plant and I didn't know anything about butterflies back then. I don't know if we grew them or not. The book brought back good memories.

The art was dream like - it gave a place to see the mystery of the nettle's supporting the caterpillar's and what will happen. You can learn a lot about butterflies from this book. Maybe because it's winter and not summer, the kids weren't all that interested in this book. I was more interested than they were. Oh well.

[Jodysegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A third edition of French's lovely 1993 picture book about a girl who learns about gardening for butterflies from her grandfather. Delicate ink and watercolor illustrations by Charlotte Voake lend the story charm, while informative side text about caterpillars and the life-cycle of butterflies will appeal to or even create the young naturalist.

[Rachel Flan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was informational and so cute. It was all about how a caterpillar turns into a butterfly and it had a story, but also had tons of facts on every page. A child who was interested in this would love this book.

[CFAITC]

A girl learns about caterpillars and butterflies as she watches her grandfather grow them on nettles in his garden. Includes CD.

[Kasandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very clear explanation of caterpillar to butterfly metamorphosis, with excellent illustrations, and information about molting, diet, and more! Great for little ones who love to be out helping in the garden.

[Brystal Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the illustrations in this book and it’s a very good book for people interested in caterpillars.

[Jerry]

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[Clarissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This lovely book about caterpillars straddles the line between fiction and nonfiction. Full of facts, but presented in the frame of a story about a girl and her grandfather. The illustrations are lovely too.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet story with lots of information and gorgeous illustrations.