Harry the Happy Caterpillar Grows

Helping Children Adjust to Change

by Cindy Jett, MSW
illustrated by Kathy Voerg

Harry is a happy caterpillar. He loves everything about his caterpillar life: crawling up trees, eating leaves, playing with his caterpillar friends Suzi and Johnny and participating in the Caterpillar Games each Friday.

Harry even likes going to caterpillar school where his teacher, a beautiful butterfly named Ms. Betty, teaches the caterpillars about the best leaves to eat. Then on day Ms. Betty teaches a lesson called “How to Build a Cocoon.” Ms Betty tells her caterpillar students about building cocoons and turning into butterflies. Harry cannot believe it. He has to give up the life he loves as a caterpillar to awaken and become a butterfly. Harry decides he won’t grow. He wants to stay the same. However, his friends teach him that change is a good and promising part of life.

Harry’s endearing story about making life adjustments shows children not to fear change and highlights the positive aspects of growth.

Cindy Jett, MSW, has a psychotherapy practice in Washington, DC. She has a Master’s of Social Work form the Catholic University of America. She lives in Reston, Virginia, with her husband and their four-year-old daughter, who just so happens to love caterpillars.

Kathy Voerg, a graduate of Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, is a freelance illustrator whose two previous books include I Don’t Want to Go to School by Nancy Pando, LICSW (Small Horizons, 2004) and The Smith Family’s New Puppy by Dana Smith-Mansell, M.S. (Small Horizons, 2008). She resides in Rutherford, New Jersey.

A Small Horizons "Let's Talk" Release
7 x 8, 48 pages, 26 Color Illustrations
LC #2009926269, world rights
ISBN 13: 978-0-88282-316-4 (pb), $8.95