Caterpillar Dreams

by Clive McFarland, Clive McFarland (Illustrator)

Overview

The Very Hungry Caterpillar meets Giraffes Can’t Dance in this sweet coming of age story about finding one’s courage.

All Henri the Caterpillar has is a dream. It’s an amazing, incredible, impossible dream.  And to chase it, Henri will have to leave the safety of his garden and embark on the adventure of a lifetime.

Written and illustrated by the award-winning creator of A Bed for Bear, Clive McFarland, Caterpillar Dreams is the inspiring story of what can happen when you dare to believe in yourself. 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062386366
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	01/17/2017
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.60(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Clive McFarland is an illustrator. He graduated from Liverpool School of Art and Design and lives and works in Northern Ireland, where he was born. He is also the author of A Bed for Bear. There’s more at www.clivemcfarland.com.

Clive McFarland is an illustrator. He graduated from Liverpool School of Art and Design and lives and works in Northern Ireland, where he was born. He is also the author of A Bed for Bear. There’s more at www.clivemcfarland.com.

Editorial Reviews

10/17/2016
McFarland follows A Bed for Bear with another tale of a dissatisfied animal, in this case Henri, a caterpillar who dreams of exploring the world beyond his garden. His friends Snail, Worm, and Slug encourage him to stay put (“Seriously, Henri, an adventure?” sighs Slug. “Sounds exhausting”), but Toad urges Henri to follow his dreams: “If you don’t chase them, they always get away.” With help from Bird, Mole, and Fish, Henri is soon on his way to an “amazing, incredible, impossible-seeming adventure,” which seems destined to kick into high gear when he discovers a hot-air balloon. But before the balloon lifts off, a cocoon forms around him, potentially robbing Henri of his dream (though readers will know better). McFarland’s digitally assembled watercolors create an appealing cast of creatures whose bugged-out eyes speak volumes about what they’re thinking, especially Henri. Throughout, McFarland emphasizes the value of patience, taking leaps, and keeping an open mind. Readers will likely recognize what Henri does not—that his adventure was well underway long before he reached the balloon. Ages 4–8. Agent: Anne Moore Armstrong, Bright Group. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

Praise for A Bed for Bear: “A sweet and satisfying bedtime selection.” — School Library Journal

“Young readers will find McFarland’s tale most agreeable, with just a few sentences per page, adorable characters, and a warm, inviting palette.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Throughout, McFarland emphasizes the value of patience, taking leaps, and keeping an open mind. Readers will likely recognize what Henri does not-that his adventure was well underway long before he reached the balloon.” — Publishers Weekly

“young viewers will have fun re-finding the friends who helped him along the way as well as the ones who welcome him home.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Henri’s epic tale is a delightful addition to most springtime collections.” — School Library Journal

“Henri’s sweet there’s-no-place-like-home adventure encouraging readers to ‘never stop chasing your dreams’ hits the spot.” — Booklist Online

“Each page of Clive McFarland’s Caterpillar Dreams delights readers with a colorful collage of images. Little Henri has personality to spare, and preschoolers and their parents will enjoy taking a romp with this bright-eyed, determined caterpillar.” — BookPage.com

From the Publisher

Henri’s sweet there’s-no-place-like-home adventure encouraging readers to ‘never stop chasing your dreams’ hits the spot.

Booklist Online

Each page of Clive McFarland’s Caterpillar Dreams delights readers with a colorful collage of images. Little Henri has personality to spare, and preschoolers and their parents will enjoy taking a romp with this bright-eyed, determined caterpillar.

BookPage.com

young viewers will have fun re-finding the friends who helped him along the way as well as the ones who welcome him home.

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

young viewers will have fun re-finding the friends who helped him along the way as well as the ones who welcome him home.

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

12/01/2016
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. VERDICT Henri's epic tale is a delightful addition to most springtime collections.—Barbara Auerbach, New York City Public Schools

School Library Journal

2016-09-19
A caterpillar embarks on a great adventure only to find there’s no place like home. Henri dreams of flying, of life beyond the garden wall. His invertebrate pals discourage this wanderlust, but Toad’s sage advice emboldens him: “Here’s the thing with dreams….If you don’t chase them, they always get away.” So the orange and yellow caterpillar (with the help of some animal friends) journeys out, crossing a fence, road, and lake before becoming a cocoon. When his metamorphosis is complete, Henri the butterfly chooses to fly to the “most amazing, incredible, impossibly possible place of all”: home. Young readers will find McFarland’s tale most agreeable, with just a few sentences per page, adorable characters, and a warm, inviting palette. It harks back to Eric Carle’s The Grouchy Ladybug and The Very Hungry Caterpillar, without the edge of the former and avant-garde minimalism of the latter. However, this gentle, timeworn tale still maintains its charm, with well-designed spreads of digital collage. A pleasing and amiable tale. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews