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.

Look Who's Here! Merry Christmas from the Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

CHRISTMAS IS A TIME...
OF SPARKLE AND SHINE...

And guess who's here? It's the Very Hungry Caterpillar, who for once is not hungry. But he is a curious caterpillar who wants to find out what all these busy doings are about.

With Eric Carle's captivating tissue-collage art and with Caterpillar as their guide, youngsters get to take part in the fun of Christmas preparations, in the famous author-illustrator's little picture book of Christmas doings.

What's this we see under the tree? Gifts are chosen for giving lovingly, wrapped prettily, and received with joy.

There may be new sights to see-- the bright star on top of the tree!

There may be snow to make their sleds go!

It may be too chilly for Caterpillar, curling up warm by the tree,
But then he's the one, when Santa comes, to be the first to see...

... what little ones are waiting for! With all the magical moments that Christmas brings, Eric Carle's Merry Christmas from The Very Hungry Caterpillar (The World of Eric Carle) (Grosset and Dunlap, 2017), this lovely little book even come wrapped in its own endpapers in repeat prints of bright presents and opens to reveal the love and fun of the season. This little book of Christmas beauty is a gift in itself for little ones just learning about the holiday. Share it with Carle's companion book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar's Christmas 123. (see review here)