Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Against simple yet striking grayscale landscapes, Naylor-Ballesteros offers a gentle tale of friendship between a round-eyed black horned beetle narrator and a red caterpillar. Every day, the pals picnic; every night, they "watch the moon come up together." That is, until one morning, when the caterpillar disappears (a red chrysalis hanging from the overlook provides an impeccable illustration of dramatic irony). Determined to rescue its friend, the beetle buckles on a picnic basket and sets off toward spots of red in the forest. Though the beetle's initial identification proves a misconstruction, a spotted red butterfly soon appears. Naylor-Ballesteros's prose is conversational and gently humorous, as in the beetle's bravery song: "Oh, I'm a beetle and, er... haven't you heard?/ I'll keep singing till... till I run out of words!" Graphite strokes offer rich texture against spare backgrounds in this tale that emphasizes friendship's ability to withstand change. Ages 4--8. (Mar.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-K--In this gentle story about the value of friendship, a red caterpillar becomes a surprising companion to a beetle. They spend many idyllic days together, until the caterpillar suddenly disappears. Spotting something red in the distance, the beetle embarks on an ambitious trek to find their friend. The quest proves fruitless until the caterpillar--now transformed into a butterfly--finds the beetle instead. Happily, they resume their comforting daily routine. Large scale black-and-white pencil illustrations with pops of red are visually striking, and the straightforward prose makes for an appealing read-aloud. The story deftly conveys affirming themes of caring and acceptance, as the beetle loves the caterpillar/butterfly unconditionally. Too, the beetle's journey opens the door to valuable discussions about emotions, relationships, and how to react to change. VERDICT Comforting and emotionally resonant with a great deal of charm, this is a first purchase for picture book collections.--Allison Tran, Mission Viejo Lib., CA
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Review by Horn Book Review
A spiky-horned beetle narrates this contemplative story of friendship, growth, and connection. The insect is alone on the edge of a cliff when a red-and-white spotted caterpillar arrives "out of nowhere." The two develop a relationship and a comfortable routine of picnicking and moon-gazing. Then, one morning, a bright red chrysalis hangs from beneath the cliff, just out of the beetle's view. The beetle has not seen the friend's transformation and doesn't understand where she has gone. Looking through a spyglass reveals a flash of red in the distance, so the beetle packs up and journeys into the unknown, singing while passing potential predators (a frog and bird). Just as the insect approaches the red mushrooms it mistakenly identified as the caterpillar, a red-and-white butterfly is shown emerging from the chrysalis. It flies to the beetle -- "I felt as if I'd seen her before, but at first, I couldn't quite put my finger on where. Then I looked more closely. And I just knew" -- and the friends are reunited in their new location. The bold red color pops atop the otherwise monochromatic art, which appears to be rendered with charcoals or dark pencils. With its oversized character eyes, grayscale hues, and emphasis on cycles, growth, and the natural world, the book is reminiscent of the work of Brendan Wenzel (They All Saw a Cat, rev. 11/16, and others). Elisa Gall July/August 2021 p.91(c) Copyright 2021. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
An insect bravely journeys to keep a fledgling friendship alive in this British import. A small, horned beetle lives on the ledge of a big rock. A caterpillar arrives "out of nowhere," and the two become friends. The beetle, who narrates, wakes up one morning to find its new friend gone, unaware that she now hangs just below the ledge in a fresh chrysalis. Grabbing a pair of binoculars, the beetle mistakes some faraway mushrooms for the caterpillar and bravely treks across the forest to find her--only to discover she isn't there. But then a butterfly arrives, and the beetle eventually recognizes its dear friend. The palette, primarily soft, textured grays, includes pops of red for the caterpillar and mushrooms, and the compositions are clean and uncluttered. The beetle is an endearing protagonist, overcoming fears to find the new friend: "The truth is, sometimes…I don't feel very strong at all." There's also humor in an impromptu song the beetle composes while traveling, all in an attempt to muster up some bravery--not to mention in the visual of the small beetle trekking across the forest with a basket on its back. The beetle's acceptance of the butterfly is genuinely touching. Her outward appearance--in effect, her identity--may have changed, but "it was my friend all the same." (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-20-inch double-page spreads viewed at 75% of actual size.) A sweet and sincere primer on how to be a friend. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
