Katy Duck Is a Caterpillar [Hardcover]

Alyssa Satin Capucilli (Author), Henry Cole (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 27, 2009 | Age Level: 2 and up | Series: Katy Duck

Its time for Katy Duck's spring dance recital and as usual Katy is looking forward to taking the stage by storm. But she's not cast not as a daffodil or the bright sun or even a fluffy cloud. Katy is cast as a caterpillar. A wiggling, crawling caterpillar. As usual Katy has to learn to manage disappointment and as only Katy can do turn a small part into the starring role as she realizes that caterpillars always emerge as beautiful butterflies.
 
This lovely springtime story is a lovely tale of making everything your own and making every part count, no matter how small. It will be truly appreciated by preschoolers and ballerinas cast as caterpillars everywhere.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1—Katy Duck and the other students at Mr. Tutu's School of Dance are abuzz with excitement over their upcoming spring recital. Katy hopes to dance the part of a flower, swan, ladybug, tree, cloud, or another beautiful sign of spring, and is devastated to learn that she is to be a caterpillar. While the other dancers practice their graceful steps, Katy dutifully wiggles and inches across the floor. But when the show begins, she remembers the most important thing about caterpillars. She crawls onto the stage, spins, curls up into a ball, and lies still. Then, after the audience quiets down to watch her, she bursts forth as a beautiful butterfly and flutters proudly across the stage. Cole's illustrations aptly convey Katy's expressions of joy and disappointment, as well as her exuberant energy. Pair this with one of Katharine Holabird's "Angelina Ballerina" stories (Viking) for a ballerina-themed storytime.—Martha Simpson, Stratford Library Association, CT
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From Booklist

In the latest Katy Duck picture book, Katy wants center stage again. Of all the seasons, spring is her favorite, so she is excited when her dance class plans a special spring celebration performance. She imagines herself gliding, shimmering, and floating across the stage as a flower, a swan, or a cloud. Then she is bitterly disappointed when her teacher casts her as a crawling caterpillar. The clear words and comedic color drawings translate Katy’s longing and disappointment and will easily appeal to young children, as will the little caterpillar’s astonishing spring transformation. Preschool-Grade 2. --Hazel Rochman

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 2 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Little Simon (January 27, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416960619
• ISBN-13: 978-1416960614
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 9.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,025,993 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Alyssa Satin Capucilli is the author of the popular books about the little yellow puppy named Biscuit. She lives in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Tra la la!, July 1, 2010

By 

bak11707 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Katy Duck Is a Caterpillar (Hardcover)

i bought this book for my niece who is obsessed with ballet and she LOVES Katy Duck. this little dancer is hilarious as her aspirations of being cast as a beautiful flower in her dance recital wilt when she discovers she will be playing...a bug. this book has a great message and is a perfect way of teaching kids to be their own person.

5.0 out of 5 stars If you have a little dancer in the house, she'll be sure to fall in love with Katy Duck!, June 2, 2009

By 

D. Fowler "Dragonfly77" (Vermont) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Katy Duck Is a Caterpillar (Hardcover)

Katy Duck was wild about dancing. She loved to twirl, jump and spin. "Tra-la-la! Quack, quack! How I love to dance!" Spring was her favorite time of the year and when she was outside she would dance around marveling at all the lovely things springtime brought. She seemed to love spring just as much as she loved dancing. Her mother had to hurry her along so she wouldn't be late for her dance class. The dance recital would be held in a few weeks and she was anxious to know what part she would have in the show.

Mr. Tutu asked them all to practice before the big announcement. Katy Duck's imagination ran wild as she practiced. She was thinking of all the exciting parts she could have. Turtle, dog, bunny, chick and kitty danced along with her until Mr. Tutu told them to "gather round" so he could tell them their parts. Flowers, a swan, a baby bird or even a ladybug would be nice, but Katy was not chosen. At last came the announcement of her part! "You, Katy Duck, shall be a caterpillar." WAAAAAA! Such a disappointment, but when the recital came there would be a big surprise!

This story was fun, fun, fun and utterly charming. Katy Duck, a little gal with a big imagination, and love for dance could be the twin of many young girls that go to dance class (except of course, she is a duck). The colorful, bright and cheery watercolors add just that right pizzazz to the story. If you have a little dancer in the house, she'll be sure to fall in love with Katy Duck!