Official Review: The Very Loving Caterpillar by Sean Browne
Posted: 22 May 2017, 11:01
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Very Loving Caterpillar" by Sean Browne.]
3 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
The Very Loving Caterpillar is a children’s picture book written by Sean Browne and illustrated by Doan Trang. It is about a caterpillar who tries to save his family and friends from the changing conditions of the environment they live in. When the weather turns cold in their tropical habitat, it severely affects the caterpillars’ sources for shelter and their ability to communicate with each other. They become fearful and even start bickering out of anger and frustration.
I enjoyed this heartwarming story. There is a healthy dose of educational information mixed into an entertaining plot, with some fantasy thrown in for good measure. The concept of caterpillars being adversely impacted by the weather could spark a child’s interest in knowing more about this topic. The only issue I had regarding the blend of fact and fantasy is that it might confuse a child. The story starts off with some easy-to-understand information about the effects of a changing environment; once the plot veers off into the fantasy realm, kids might not understand what’s real vs. imagined.
The beautiful artwork in this book provides a nice complement to the storyline. The illustrator does a fine job displaying the caterpillars in their habitat, and I particularly liked the detailed expressions on the characters’ faces. The brightly colored pictures lend themselves well as a jumpstart to do crafts such as making a caterpillar out of paper or an egg carton.
The writing style is a bit sophisticated at times for a children’s book. Some of the word choices and phrasing are fairly advanced for a young child to comprehend, such as “a wave of frustration,” “deep despair,” and “in harmony.” The main character remains nameless throughout the story and is referred to only as “the very loving caterpillar.” It’s a sweet description, but I think kids might find it hard to relate to a character with no given name. This also gave an impersonal tone to the story.
Although there is a clear climax to the plot, the ending felt a little rushed. I would have preferred another page or two so that children could have a fuller explanation to wrap up the story.
I give this book a rating of 3 out of 4 stars. It is a cute story suitable for children ages 3-7. I would recommend this short read as a good choice for library and classroom storytimes. It would be a nice addition to any young child’s bookshelf.
******
The Very Loving Caterpillar
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Like bookowlie's review? Post a comment saying so!
3 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
The Very Loving Caterpillar is a children’s picture book written by Sean Browne and illustrated by Doan Trang. It is about a caterpillar who tries to save his family and friends from the changing conditions of the environment they live in. When the weather turns cold in their tropical habitat, it severely affects the caterpillars’ sources for shelter and their ability to communicate with each other. They become fearful and even start bickering out of anger and frustration.
I enjoyed this heartwarming story. There is a healthy dose of educational information mixed into an entertaining plot, with some fantasy thrown in for good measure. The concept of caterpillars being adversely impacted by the weather could spark a child’s interest in knowing more about this topic. The only issue I had regarding the blend of fact and fantasy is that it might confuse a child. The story starts off with some easy-to-understand information about the effects of a changing environment; once the plot veers off into the fantasy realm, kids might not understand what’s real vs. imagined.
The beautiful artwork in this book provides a nice complement to the storyline. The illustrator does a fine job displaying the caterpillars in their habitat, and I particularly liked the detailed expressions on the characters’ faces. The brightly colored pictures lend themselves well as a jumpstart to do crafts such as making a caterpillar out of paper or an egg carton.
The writing style is a bit sophisticated at times for a children’s book. Some of the word choices and phrasing are fairly advanced for a young child to comprehend, such as “a wave of frustration,” “deep despair,” and “in harmony.” The main character remains nameless throughout the story and is referred to only as “the very loving caterpillar.” It’s a sweet description, but I think kids might find it hard to relate to a character with no given name. This also gave an impersonal tone to the story.
Although there is a clear climax to the plot, the ending felt a little rushed. I would have preferred another page or two so that children could have a fuller explanation to wrap up the story.
I give this book a rating of 3 out of 4 stars. It is a cute story suitable for children ages 3-7. I would recommend this short read as a good choice for library and classroom storytimes. It would be a nice addition to any young child’s bookshelf.
******
The Very Loving Caterpillar
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Like bookowlie's review? Post a comment saying so!
. You make a good point, that it might be helpful to expose kids to more advanced words. I just think it might be frustrating for them if they are very young.