Charlie the Catapillar

De Luise, Dom .(Author)
Chrisopher Santoro (Illustrator)
Charlie the Caterpillar
New York: Simon & Shuester, 1990.

Compassion , empathy, socialization and science concepts are introduced by journeying with Charlie, the caterpillar as he learns about life, love, and change. Patterning, rhyming and repetition are also used in this story and may used to engaged children being read to into the actions of the story.

Appropriate Age/Grade Level: Preschool age (3–5 years) - 4th Grade. (with adaption)

Evaluation Criteria
1. Content
Charlie the caterpillar has an amazing metamorphosis from an ugly caterpillar that no one want to play with to a lovely butterfly that everyone now wants to play with. This book tell a story about change, belonging, longing, an social behavior and empathy are a main focus in the theme of this book.

2. Illustrations
The cover of the book draws in the child by expressing the warmth of Charlie, the main character. Children love caterpillars an butterflies and the illustration on this book certainly are colorful , bright, and eye appealing. The illustrations support the written word, a child could easily look at the pictures and tell a story. With all the interesting animals within the story represented with an illustration, this book is certainly filled with plenty of color inviting and charming illustrations.

3. Theme
As Charlie goes on his journey he desperately needs a friend. He encounters pain along his short path to self realization an finally in the end prevails with a true friend. The theme in this book is one near every child an adult can empathize with- not fitting in. Suddenly, Charlies finds himself wanted by all once he is a butterfly. Empathy, compassion, and social behaviors is the theme of this book.

Personal Reaction
Dom De Luise and Illustrator Christopher Santoro did a did a warm , charming, and heartfelt job writing Charlie the Caterpillar. This is a book that I have shared with my children an the children I work with. The book has appealing an engaging illustrations and an classic heartfelt message. Children live vicariously and empathize with Charlie, the main character. From preschool to upper primary this book can be a useful leaning opportunity as well as a time true theme retold in a charming story that children will simply love to read again and again.

Discussion questions
1.Why was Charlie so sad in the beginning of the story?
2.Tell me how you felt when the other animals were mean an Charlie could find no friend?
3.What happened at the end of the story?