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Reviewed by Carine Engelbrecht for Readers' Favorite
Casper, a young caterpillar, identifies strongly with the letter C, not only because his name begins with C, but also because it represents his favorite activity. This adorable little caterpillar loves nothing more than curling up in a half circle and then tumbling down the hill as fast as he can. On the cusp of major changes in his life, he clings desperately to familiar things to stay in his comfort zone. But ultimately, Casper must embrace change to grow. Throughout Casper Caterpillar, author Gensy James inserts engaging questions to link Casper's dilemma to relatable attitudes in the young readers who will learn from his story. The book ends with a section of fun facts about real caterpillars, not just the boring details, but also interesting factoids, such as the superpowers some caterpillars possess. Do caterpillars have superpowers? You bet they do!
It's no surprise that caterpillars have become a popular archetype in children's picture books. They represent a powerful metaphor for the transformation each child must go through. Amongst these, Casper stands out for various reasons. His pickiness, when it comes to food, may seem very relatable to younger children, who are still trying to figure out what gels with their taste buds. Here, Casper's experiences gently push against the boundaries of known territory to reveal an important lesson. Sometimes we grow stronger by facing preconceived notions head-on. But that's not the only learning opportunity Casper has to impart. His very form conveys another lesson by gently familiarizing young would-be readers with the shape of just one letter from the alphabet. The color palette of the watercolor illustrations is really gorgeous, making the book a true pleasure to read. Hats off to Gensy James and illustrator Amurtha Godage for this perfect fusion of quirky artwork and an engaging story. Casper Caterpillar is part of the Alphabet Friends series.
