Caterpillar Dreams

PreS-Gr 2—Henri is a little caterpillar with a big dream: he wants to fly, see the world, and go on "amazing, incredibly impossible-seeming adventures." At this, readers may smile to themselves knowingly and imagine how his story will end, but McFarland serves up so much more. Henri's garden friends urge him to stay. "'Seriously, Henri, an adventure? Sounds exhausting,' Slug says with a sigh." Only Toad encourages Henri to follow his dream. And so a series of unexpected adventures ensue. He hitches a ride over the garden wall on the wings of Bird, tunnels underground with Mole, crosses a lake atop Fish, and climbs the ropes of a hot-air balloon. "But before Henri reaches the top, something happens to him. A cocoon starts to form around him… Henri is stuck. His dream is going to get away." Eventually, he sleeps, and we all know what happens when he awakens. Butterfly Henri can fly anywhere and everywhere. So where does he go? "Home. The most amazing, incredible, impossibly possible place of all." The mixed-media illustrations are at times reminiscent of Leo Lionni's work, with often simple, expressive creatures imposed on a white background. Gardens, transformation, friendship, and dreams are some of the worthy themes explored in this charming offering.