Cocoon by Aura Parker
Scholastic, 2019. ISBN: 9781742765129.
(Age: 4+) Themes: Metamorphosis, Moths and butterflies, Cocoons,
Insects. Dawn and her friends are larvae, aware that soon they will
change and become encased in a cocoon from which they will emerge as
moths or butterflies. The group cannot wait. They dream of weaving
their cocoon and developing wings while inside their cocoon.
The story then follows Dawn and her friends as this stage of their
development occurs. Parker creates humorous watercolour
illustrations to show the insects as they eat an enormous amount of
leaves, waiting for their cocooning. When Dawn feels that her time
has come, she begins to weave her cocoon, at first knitting one
which simply does not work. When she arrives at the correct method
of enveloping herself within the cocoon, she settles down, wondering
just when her wings will appear.
Young readers will be enthralled waiting with Dawn as her change
appears, and imagining what she will turn into. Parker's use of the
correct words will facilitate an introduction for young readers to a
natural science lesson leading on to a discussion about moths and
butterflies and their life cycles.
On the last endpaper, the author has included a number of things for
readers to seek out.
Fran Knight