Whatever happens to the six hairy caterpillars that Christopher Nibble and his friend Posie are keeping as pets? The guinea pig friends have looked after the caterpillars perfectly, keeping them well fed with lots of juicy leaves and making sure they have plenty of airholes but even so, they seem to have disappeared. How the two find their pets in their new form is a delightful story and excellent introduction to a natural life cycle.
Christopher Nibble is so busy tending his dandelion patch that it's starting to take over his life and he doesn't even have time for football any more. Then he meets his new neighbour, Posie. She offers to help him out in the garden. When the dandelion seedlings start being nibbled by caterpillars, it's Posie's idea to keep them as pets.
Christopher Nibble is so busy tending his dandelion patch that it's starting to take over his life and he doesn't even have time for football any more. Then he meets his new neighbour, Posie. She offers to help him out in the garden. When the dandelion seedlings start being nibbled by caterpillars, it's Posie's idea to keep them as pets.
Mr Rosetti from the cafe gives them some empty sweet jars and Christopher and Posie feed their furry caterpillars and watch them grow. But one morning Christopher and Posie can't see any caterpillars in their jars. They have disappeared! Quite desperate, they make 'missing' posters and put them up all over Dandeville. It takes Mr Rosetti to reveal the miracle of metamorphosis to the two bereft guinea-pigs.
After the mystery is solved, Christopher and Posie's lost-and-found posters showing brightly coloured caterpillars and butterflies delight all the guinea-pigs of Dandeville when they are displayed in a special exhibition at the art gallery. A contemporary environmental tale set in a wonderfully surreal world where guinea pigs drink cappuccino, play football and visit art galleries!
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'I adored the illustrations - Charlotte Middleton's guinea pig world is eccentrically realised and the strong environmental message doesn't detract from the overriding humour in the story.' - Askews Library Service Children's Newsletter
'When dandelions begin disappearing it's up to Nibbles to rescue the last plant so new seeds can fly through the air, nearly 3-D, on a beautifully evocative spread.' - New York Times
'Middleton's tale of over-consuming and scarcity is direct but not preachy. Using a bold font for emphasis, the text is simple and age appropriate, but the mixed-media illustrations steal the show. A photo of a cabbage is combined with drawn elements such as insects. The library scene is full of humorous book titles that will elicit chuckles from young and old. Every page features something that draws the eye in for a closer look.' - School Library Journal
Charlotte Middleton’s childhood guinea pigs are the inspiration for Christopher Nibble! At school, Charlotte loved drawing and would regularly illustrate her spelling and times tables test papers. She went on to study Graphic Art and Illustration at the Cambridge School of Art. Her first book, Tabitha’s Terrifically Tough Tooth, was published in 1998 and since then she has written and illustrated more than a dozen books. Her stories have been sold all over the world and Charlotte would love to be as well-travelled as her books one day.
Christopher Nibble is so busy tending his dandelion patch that it's starting to take over his life and he doesn't even have time for football any more. Then he meets his new neighbour, Posie.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed Christopher's Caterpillars and determined it is suitable for children aged 3-6 years old
Christopher's Caterpillars features in the following genres: Featured Books for 5+ readers, Recommendations, Recommended Children's eBooks, Featured Books for 3+ readers
Paperback, Hardback. Not Available.
Christopher's Caterpillars was written by Charlotte Middleton and published by Oxford University Press
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