What do you think?
What Does A Caterpillar Do?
The International Award Winning 'What Does A Caterpillar Do?' was written in memory of Chloe and Aubrey Berry and all profits are being donated to the Victoria Child Abuse Prevention and Counselling Centre. See www.akidsauthor.com for more information.
The world around us is full of millions and millions of unappreciated, but amazingly fantastic bugs. From the smallest ant to the largest snail, each has its own characteristic which makes it uniquely suited to thrive in its own environment. ‘What Does a Caterpillar Do?’ allows children to, through the eyes of the cheeky caterpillar, meet some of these bugs and to learn a little bit about what makes them so different.
Featuring beautiful and humorous illustrations by the fantastic Lucy Rogers, What Does A Caterpillar Do? captures a child’s imagination before the book is even open. Inside, the child is taken on a wonderful journey through nature where they meet Bees, Snails, Ladybugs and Spiders. Each insect radiates personality as they watch, with amusement, our caterpillar’s attempt to mirror their unique characteristic. The simple narrative uses trusted teaching techniques, such as repetition and humor, to guide younger children through the story with and without their parent’s guidance. The narrative concludes by providing the child with the answer to the book’s core question (she turns into a butterfly of course!).
What Does A Caterpillar Do? Presents a truly interactive learning experience for all pre-k to grade 2 children and will be a firm favorite on the bookshelf of any child!
What Does A Caterpillar Do? has been awarded the silver medal at the Readers Favourite International Book Awards.
The world around us is full of millions and millions of unappreciated, but amazingly fantastic bugs. From the smallest ant to the largest snail, each has its own characteristic which makes it uniquely suited to thrive in its own environment. ‘What Does a Caterpillar Do?’ allows children to, through the eyes of the cheeky caterpillar, meet some of these bugs and to learn a little bit about what makes them so different.
Featuring beautiful and humorous illustrations by the fantastic Lucy Rogers, What Does A Caterpillar Do? captures a child’s imagination before the book is even open. Inside, the child is taken on a wonderful journey through nature where they meet Bees, Snails, Ladybugs and Spiders. Each insect radiates personality as they watch, with amusement, our caterpillar’s attempt to mirror their unique characteristic. The simple narrative uses trusted teaching techniques, such as repetition and humor, to guide younger children through the story with and without their parent’s guidance. The narrative concludes by providing the child with the answer to the book’s core question (she turns into a butterfly of course!).
What Does A Caterpillar Do? Presents a truly interactive learning experience for all pre-k to grade 2 children and will be a firm favorite on the bookshelf of any child!
What Does A Caterpillar Do? has been awarded the silver medal at the Readers Favourite International Book Awards.
32 pages, Paperback
Published June 5, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 4, 2020
As a Kindergarten teacher, I have a certain love of picture books – especially those that fit into the curriculum I am teaching. David McArthur’s What Does A Caterpillar Do, immediately caught my attention to complement my annual study of caterpillars and butterflies.
But it is So. Much. More.
This sweet picture book is brilliant for kids, with its gorgeous illustrations and fun read-aloud that is begging to have children reciting along. It is always fun as an educator to have a book that has the class chanting along with you as it is read! I adore how it takes readers through a variety of insects, evoking children to think of what they know and matching up their knowledge with the critters in the story. This story is a perfect introduction for an inquiry into learning more about insects, or animals with special talents, or even into finding what each of us is good at! I imagine activities with my future classes where they can brainstorm other skills various creatures may have, and get creative with their own illustrations or funny ideas. Oh, and of course, it will still be a perfect story to read when our caterpillars hatch into beautiful butterflies too!
As a mother, my love of books continues in my personal library for my children. What Does A Caterpillar Do has a place on our bookshelf, where my own children can have a blast reading (and re-reading) the wonderful facts, and challenge each other at who can shout ‘NO!’ the loudest. For me, it’s a reminder of the love of a parent, and the memory of two beautiful girls that left this world too soon. I was touched when I heard of the inspiration and dedication of this story, and cannot help but think of the girls each time I see the cover, or read the book.
This is a story I have gifted to several educator friends, as well as family members, and it will be cherished in my classroom and home for years to come! I can’t wait for more in this series!
Angela Scandale
Kindergarten Teacher
Sangster Elementary School
But it is So. Much. More.
This sweet picture book is brilliant for kids, with its gorgeous illustrations and fun read-aloud that is begging to have children reciting along. It is always fun as an educator to have a book that has the class chanting along with you as it is read! I adore how it takes readers through a variety of insects, evoking children to think of what they know and matching up their knowledge with the critters in the story. This story is a perfect introduction for an inquiry into learning more about insects, or animals with special talents, or even into finding what each of us is good at! I imagine activities with my future classes where they can brainstorm other skills various creatures may have, and get creative with their own illustrations or funny ideas. Oh, and of course, it will still be a perfect story to read when our caterpillars hatch into beautiful butterflies too!
As a mother, my love of books continues in my personal library for my children. What Does A Caterpillar Do has a place on our bookshelf, where my own children can have a blast reading (and re-reading) the wonderful facts, and challenge each other at who can shout ‘NO!’ the loudest. For me, it’s a reminder of the love of a parent, and the memory of two beautiful girls that left this world too soon. I was touched when I heard of the inspiration and dedication of this story, and cannot help but think of the girls each time I see the cover, or read the book.
This is a story I have gifted to several educator friends, as well as family members, and it will be cherished in my classroom and home for years to come! I can’t wait for more in this series!
Angela Scandale
Kindergarten Teacher
Sangster Elementary School
December 30, 2020
We love What Does A Caterpillar Do by David McArthur. This is a really fun book that will have kids laughing, shouting and beginning to believe that they can read! The book begins in a garden at night. Readers are asked “does a caterpillar light our way at night?” The answer comes in big, bold letters, “NO! A firefly lights our way at night.” That is the simply brilliant format that makes this book so much fun. As kids meet a spider, a silkworm and a cricket they will quickly catch on that their job is to laugh and shout “no!” to every question.
This is a delightful book that kids will want to read together over and over again. And, thanks to the interactive nature of the book, they will quickly begin to develop the confidence that they can learn how to read.
The book’s beautiful, colorful illustrations by Lucy Rogers will captivate kids’ attention. Each illustration is filled with rich details that will make each reading feel like a new experience.
The fact that profits from the sales of this book will benefit the Victoria Child Abuse Prevention & Counseling Centre is one more reason to add this book to your family library
This is a delightful book that kids will want to read together over and over again. And, thanks to the interactive nature of the book, they will quickly begin to develop the confidence that they can learn how to read.
The book’s beautiful, colorful illustrations by Lucy Rogers will captivate kids’ attention. Each illustration is filled with rich details that will make each reading feel like a new experience.
The fact that profits from the sales of this book will benefit the Victoria Child Abuse Prevention & Counseling Centre is one more reason to add this book to your family library
September 3, 2020
My daughters and I love sitting down and reading David's book "What Does a caterpillar do?" at least a few times a week! The girls love the illustrations as there is so much to see on each page. Lucy really brought each character to life and gave them so much personality, the musical crickets, the hungry Spider and the beautiful happy, waving to each other, butterflies. I really enjoyed how the story is about one caterpillar yet we learn so much about many other insects! Each page invited the question "What else can each insect do?" This created more educational and curious conversation between my daughters and I, "I saw a ant today, Daddy!" They also really got a kick of screaming "NO" on each page! Finally, of course being from Victoria the Chloe and Aubrey tribute was a perfect touch. A reminder that just like them, we will all live on, it may be in a different form, but we will all continue on the journey. Thank you, David.
October 4, 2020
This is such a fun, easy read for our kids and the bright illustrations quickly captured the eyes of our little readers. 'What does a Caterpillar do?' has quickly become a favourite in our house. We love how the caterpillar is the focus of the story, but learned about other insects around us too, and gives us all an appreciation for what makes them unique. It's a book our family highly recommends parents add to their collection, and others from David's work.
Andy Neal
Anchor/CHEK News
Victoria, BC
Andy Neal
Anchor/CHEK News
Victoria, BC
September 1, 2020
This is a lovely book that belongs on every child's bookshelf. The illustrations are bright and humourous with lots of engaging detail. The pattern of the story, in question and answer format, encourages interaction and will appeal to young readers and nature lovers everywhere. I highly recommend this book for all children, parents, teachers, librarians and grandparents.
Jennifer Ross
Retired JK Special Education Teacher
Waterloo, Ontario
Also, grandparent to 2 little boys
Jennifer Ross
Retired JK Special Education Teacher
Waterloo, Ontario
Also, grandparent to 2 little boys
May 21, 2021
As summer gets going, gardens are filled with all kinds of creatures, and each one has a specific job to do. A little green caterpillar is traveling around her garden, interacting with each of her creepy, crawly friends. First, she wonders if caterpillars light the way at night. But as everyone knows, it is fireflies that perform that brilliant task. She tries pollinating flowers, but the bees come in and show her how they excel in that behavior. Caterpillar even tries wearing a red and black coat, but then she learns that it is a ladybug who sports those colors. So what does a caterpillar do? She must build herself a chrysalis to find out.
This beautifully accessible picture book is well-suited to preschool-aged readers. The text is repetitive, beginning each page with a question that is refuted on the next. Children who love the word “no” will appreciate the unabashed use of it in this book as they shout it along with their caregiver. Short sentences and familiar garden dwellers make this book an excellent selection for both large Storytime settings and lap reads alike.
From the very first moment, the brightly colored illustrations draw readers into the story. A selection of caterpillar types are featured on the endpapers and showcase some of the myriad varieties that exist. Two humans with light skin are depicted in the book, but the primary focus is on the creatures residing in the garden. Bright floral hues adorn most of the pages as caterpillar explores during the day, and the nighttime scenes are equally stunning. Brush strokes and careful shading give depth and texture to each image, alternating between scenes with more detailed backgrounds and those that focus on a specific character.
Young children who enjoy interacting with stories and demonstrating their knowledge are sure to fall for this book. It is at once a cheerful journey through a garden and a reminder that every creature is unique and beautiful. This is a lovely addition to library collections for preschool-aged children.
I received an ARC of this book through Reedsy and I chose to leave this review.
This beautifully accessible picture book is well-suited to preschool-aged readers. The text is repetitive, beginning each page with a question that is refuted on the next. Children who love the word “no” will appreciate the unabashed use of it in this book as they shout it along with their caregiver. Short sentences and familiar garden dwellers make this book an excellent selection for both large Storytime settings and lap reads alike.
From the very first moment, the brightly colored illustrations draw readers into the story. A selection of caterpillar types are featured on the endpapers and showcase some of the myriad varieties that exist. Two humans with light skin are depicted in the book, but the primary focus is on the creatures residing in the garden. Bright floral hues adorn most of the pages as caterpillar explores during the day, and the nighttime scenes are equally stunning. Brush strokes and careful shading give depth and texture to each image, alternating between scenes with more detailed backgrounds and those that focus on a specific character.
Young children who enjoy interacting with stories and demonstrating their knowledge are sure to fall for this book. It is at once a cheerful journey through a garden and a reminder that every creature is unique and beautiful. This is a lovely addition to library collections for preschool-aged children.
I received an ARC of this book through Reedsy and I chose to leave this review.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews