Adios, Oscar!: A Butterfly Fable
Kindergarten-Grade 2—When Oscar the caterpillar meets Bob the monarch butterfly, the little green guy is awed by Bob's beautiful wings. Bob assures him that he will have wings of his own someday, then flies off to a monarch habitat in Mexico. Sure enough, Oscar grows a cocoon and emerges with wings. However, he is dismayed to discover that he has become a dull gray moth instead of a brilliant butterfly. With some encouragement from his friend Edna the bookworm, he pursues his dream of joining the butterflies south of the border. This charming story about loving oneself and pursuing one's dreams sends an important message to children without being preachy or pedantic. The bright colors and cartoon-style illustrations enhance its ebullient, optimistic tone while giving the book strong appeal for children. The introduction of some basic Spanish vocabulary is an added bonus.—Mary Landrum, Lexington Public Library, KYCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.