Bob and Otto
Kindergarten-Grade 2—Two friends spend a lot of time together. One day, Bob (a caterpillar) looks up into the tree and decides he needs to climb. Otto (an earthworm) stays below, digging in the soil. At this point, Bob's story appears on the top of the pages, with Otto's below. Bob climbs, eats, and takes a nap in a cocoon while Otto eats and digs through the dirt. Bob emerges as a beautiful yellow butterfly. Otto becomes sad when he sees his friend, as he thinks that had he climbed the tree, he could have been a butterfly too, instead of being "Just a big…fat…worm." Luckily, Bob's a clever pal and he knows that Otto is aerating the soil, helping the tree to grow, and providing food for Bob. The story is a good vehicle for showing that friends don't always have to do the same things, and that their actions can complement one another's. Bright, vibrant illustrations on full spreads enhance the satisfying story, which would be perfect for introducing spring science units.—Nancy Kunz, Tuckahoe Public Library, NYCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.