In My Dreams I Can Fly

PreS-K–As the snowy winter settles, five friend—a grub, a beetle, a caterpillar, and two worms—play cards and share the steps they have taken to prepare for winter underground. The worms and the beetle have collected food to support them in the cold days and as time passes on, the caterpillar spins itself in a warm and colorful cocoon, where it can dream. This picture book will capture preschoolers’ imaginations as they glance at the underground homes of these invertebrates. There is a small mishap involving an onion, which is actually a flower bulb, but mostly these are soothing underground scenes. Following a palette of soft colors, interrupted only by the bright marks on the beetle’s body, the illustrations offer great details for readers to discover in a compact story time setting or at home. Although caregivers might need to explain that the caterpillar does not need food when it hangs upside down in the cocoon, readers will delight in uncovering that after winter comes the spring and with it butterflies and sprouting vegetables and flowers.