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Katy Duck is a Caterpillar    by Alyssa Satin Capucilli & Henry Cole Amazon.com order for
Katy Duck is a Caterpillar
by Alyssa Satin Capucilli
Order:  USA  Can
Simon & Schuster, 2009 (2009)
Hardcover
* *   Reviewed by Hilary Daninhirsch

This is the first Katy Duck book I have read in the series of picture books about a little dancing duck. Katy Duck loves to dance. She dances in all seasons, though spring is her favorite.

'Katy stretched like the buds that magically blossomed on the trees.
Katy hopped to and fro, like the baby birds just learning to fly.
Katy swayed in the breeze like the tulips poking their heads above ground.
'

When Katy is cast as a caterpillar in the spring ballet recital, she can't help but be disappointed. All of the other dancers have beautiful roles, such as birds, the sun, or fluffy clouds. During rehearsal, Katy slithers on the ground like a caterpillar would do, but inside, she knows she should be soaring. It isn't until the night of the show that the butterfly inside her emerges.

Katy's determination and her discovery of the true meaning of beauty will resonate with preschoolers (particularly if you have a little dancer at home, as I do). The whimsical illustrations add charm to the story. And you needn't have read the other Katy Duck books to appreciate this one, as it stands on its own.

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