Each year, thousands of school children learn the lifecycle of a butterfly. An egg hatches a caterpillar, which – after eating a lot – turns into a chrysalis and then becomes a butterfly!
Houdini, from Janet Pedersen’s Houdini the Amazing Caterpillar (Clarion, 2008), is just one caterpillar in one classroom. But, he doesn’t consider himself a teaching tool. He thinks he’s an entertainer. After all, when Houdini was just an egg, his mother told him he’d do amazing and magical things.
So he makes leaves vanish, defies death by crawling across high sticks and sheds his skin to applause. Before long, the students all adore him. But Houdini learns fame is short-lived. Soon, the students are equally enthralled by the class turtle, a visiting spider and a flowering plant.
Houdini decides to win back his fickle fans by performing his best trick ever. He seals himself inside a chrysalis and doesn’t move for almost two weeks. When he finally comes out, no one doubts the magic that was inside him.
Today’s guest reviewer is Helen. She was happy to meet Houdini and hear his story.
Our reviewer: Helen
Age: 7
I like: Playing “Peanut Butter and Jelly” outside. It’s a game with a red ball and a yellow ball. I also like Irish Dancing and pretending to be puppies with my friends.
This book was about: A caterpillar who can do cool tricks. The class watches, and after each one, he says “Ta-Da!” Then a turtle, a spider and a plant show up and the class watches them, instead.
The best part was when: The pictures show the cycle of how a caterpillar turns into a butterfly.
I laughed when: The picture showed just Houdini’s eyes peeking out of the cocoon right before he became a butterfly.
I was worried when: The cocoon turned all gray. I didn’t think his trick would work out. I thought he might turn into a dirty butterfly instead of a bright one.
I was surprised when: He actually became a clean, beautiful butterfly.
This book taught me: How a caterpillar turns into a butterfly.
Three words that best describe this book are: “Houdini.” “Caterpillar.” “Amazing.”
My favorite line or phrase in this book is: “Ta-Da!”
You should read this book because: If you’re learning about caterpillars and butterflies in school, this explains all the important parts. It even shows you what kind of an egg a caterpillar comes from.
Thanks, Helen!
Janet Pedersen wrote and illustrated this book after attending a “Butterfly Celebration Day” at her son’s school. She even included a page of facts about how Monarch butterflies go through metamorphosis.
Janet has also written and illustrated other children’s books. If you’d like to see more of her work, check out her illustration portfolio or her list of books.
