Meta-What? The Very Impatient Caterpillar by Ross Burdach

Caterpillar #1: "Hey! What are you doing?"

Caterpillar #2: "We're going to metamorphosize... transform into butterflies."

Caterpillar #1: "Right. Right. I knew that. WAIT! Meta-WHAT!

You're telling me I can become a butterfly?"

Caterpillar #2 patiently points out that that's what caterpillars DO. They spin a chrysalis around their little many-legged bodies and metamorphose into six-legged, winged butterflies.

At first Caterpillar #1 can't get the hang of that spinning thing, but finally he manages to make himself a fairly decent chrysalis hanging side by side with his buddy. He's excited. Is he meta-whated yet? Caterpillar #2 patiently explains that it takes a couple of weeks and patience to change into a butterfly.

"TWO WEEKS??"

Can he go get a comic book to read? What if he needs a potty break? What if he gets hungry? He pulls out his phone.

"Hello? Two pizzas, please.

My address? A chrysalis.

Hello? Hellooo?"

Halfway though Day 1, Caterpillar #1 is going stir crazy.

There's nothing to do in there and he's getting claustrophobic! Surely he's done by now! KA-POW! He rips off his chrysalis, Superman-style.

WAIT! Where are my wings?

But Mother Nature takes her time, and Caterpillar #1 returns to his chrysalis and decides it's time for mind over matter. OMMMMM!

"Become One with the Chrysalis."

There's nothing for it but to go with the flow, in Ross Burdach's preternaturally funny The Very Impatient Caterpillar (Scholastic Press, 2019).  It's a picture book that has it all, a slice of primary-grade nature science, terrific comic art, and a bit of  a life lesson in patience. Burdach's quirky back-and-forth banter makes this one a dandy read-aloud in the best tradition of Darleen Cronin's classic Diary of a Worm and Tedd Arnold's Hi! Fly Guy,. Burdach's clever cartooning chops make this one a laugh-out-loud delight, one that will engage sophisticated story-time-savvy second and third graders, who will also find this one the bee's knees for reading solo.

Spread Your Wings: Butterfly Birthday by Harriet Ziefert

WINTER IS NEARLY OVER.
THE SUN WARMS THE FROZEN GROUND.
PURPLE CROCUSES ARE THE FIRST TO ANNOUNCE THE COMING OF SPRING.

Yes, spring is in the air, and the beetles and ants and crickets greet each other joyfully as they emerge from their cold-weather haunts. But there is a separate, special excitement in the air. Something more is about to happen, and the insects bustle about, preparing for some sort of party. Spiders spin webs to help feed the hungry bugs and ants totter under tasty tidbits. Some kind of celebration is in the works.

A CARDINAL RETURNING FROM WARMER WEATHER NOTICES THE ACTIVITY, BUT LEAVES THE INSECTS ALONE.

EVEN HE KNOWS THIS IS A SPECIAL DAY.

The little bugs are all agog. What can be happening?

Then an older, wiser insect gives the little ones a hint. Grandma Beetle takes a little one and shows him the delicately beautiful chrysalises hanging from the twigs, flecked with sparkling dots.

"THE CATERPILLARS WERE NOT JUST BUSY MUNCHING LEAVES," SAYS GRANDMA BEETLE.

"THEY GAVE US DECORATIONS FOR OUR PARTY."

"BUT WHERE DID THE CATERPILLARS GO?" ASKS LITTLE ANT.

Ah, a wise child, that one. And soon the young ones see why they are all assembled for a celebration. It is the vernal equinox, Grandma tells them, and if they watch above them, they will see something wonderful. It's the spring birthday of the butterflies, breaking out of their chrysalises, pumping their wings until they are full and beautiful, and flying forth to greet the great day, the first day of spring, their metamorphosis signaling the turning of the seasons and many more birthdays for all.

Joining her set of books celebrating the turning of the seasons, Harriet Ziefert's latest, Butterfly Birthday, illustrated glowingly by Mark Jones, joins her Snow Party and By the Light of the Harvest Moon celebrating the seasons. Pair this one, complete with tactile and be-sparkled beautiful butterflies with Jane O'Connor's Fancy Nancy: Bonjour, Butterfly to kick off a nature study session centered on the variety and beauty of butterflies.