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Becoming Charley
A New York Times bestselling author and an award-winning illustrator team up for a striking, modern-day take on The Very Hungry Caterpillar that celebrates staying true to oneself.
Everyone is trying to teach Charley the right way to become a Eat your milkweed! Think black! Think orange!
But Charley's busy admiring the many beautiful things in the world. Like the swaying trees, and the tall mountains, and the turquoise sea. . . . Is there really a "right" way for Charley to become a butterfly?
Young readers will see themselves in Charley--a little caterpillar with an emerging identity--in this dazzling picture book that beautifully explores the nature of self-love.
Everyone is trying to teach Charley the right way to become a Eat your milkweed! Think black! Think orange!
But Charley's busy admiring the many beautiful things in the world. Like the swaying trees, and the tall mountains, and the turquoise sea. . . . Is there really a "right" way for Charley to become a butterfly?
Young readers will see themselves in Charley--a little caterpillar with an emerging identity--in this dazzling picture book that beautifully explores the nature of self-love.
40 pages, Hardcover
Published May 2, 2023
About the author
Kelly DiPucchio
47 books253 followersKelly is the award-winning author of several children’s books, thousands of To-Do lists, and a few recipe cards. Two of her books, Grace For President and The Sandwich Swap, were New York Times bestsellers.
Like most kids who grew up in the 1970’s, Kelly had a pet goat and bought all her clothes from the Sears catalog. Like most teenagers who grew up in the 1980’s, Kelly had really big glasses and feathered hair.
Today, Kelly lives with her husband and three children in southeastern Michigan, where she enjoys writing just about everything except her own bio.
Like most kids who grew up in the 1970’s, Kelly had a pet goat and bought all her clothes from the Sears catalog. Like most teenagers who grew up in the 1980’s, Kelly had really big glasses and feathered hair.
Today, Kelly lives with her husband and three children in southeastern Michigan, where she enjoys writing just about everything except her own bio.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
July 4, 2023
“The forest was alive with young caterpillars who kept their heads down, eating, just as they’d been taught to do. But not Charley.”
Love this story of growing beautifully into exactly who you were meant to be. 5 stars for Becoming Charley! 🐛🦋
Love this story of growing beautifully into exactly who you were meant to be. 5 stars for Becoming Charley! 🐛🦋
June 19, 2023
It's a fable, everybody; calm down.
May 1, 2023
Plenty of young readers will easily relate to Charley, an independent-minded young caterpillar who bucks conventions and doesn't always follow the rules. The way this story [3.5 for me] is told is particularly appealing since there are admonitions and advice or conventional wisdom imparted on Charley constantly, just as often happens to youngsters, even when they are humans, but she resists that advice. Even during classes, instead of focusing on colors and shapes that will help her be the best Monarch butterfly possible, she's fascinated by the mountains, the ocean, and a leaf. When it's time for each caterpillar to become a chyrsalis, Charley's thoughts on more than black and orange, and when she bursts forth, long after the others have, Charley shows off resplendent wings, filled with all sorts of colors and elements from all those earlier distractions. The message of self-love, empowerment, and being true to oneself rings out loud and clear here, and there will be many readers who will embrace the idea of becoming the individuals they are meant to be, whatever form that takes. Created with Photoshop and Procreate, the illustrations are filled with lovely nature scenes, blooming with possibilities amid Charley's curiosity. As much as Monarchs are stunning in their beauty, the world has room for other colors and beauty such as Charley's. This story can be read exactly as it is presented but also as a nudge toward anyone who is afraid to reveal his/her/their true self and claim their identity in all its glory.
August 2, 2023
Who wouldn't want to be a monarch butterfly? Well, Charley, for one. He might want to be a monarch but he's just not sure. Maybe he will be a waterfall. Or stars. There are just so many wonderful things in nature, it's very difficult to decide on just one. So he doesn't pay much attention in the "How to Turn Into a Monarch" lessons that the elders are teaching. Then the big day comes and all the caterpillars spin their chrysalises. And they hatch - all except one. I wasn't thrilled with the elders being so negative about Charley with their "I knew he'd never amount to anything" comments. But, of course, Charley does emerge and has become the exact butterfly that he was meant to be.
Not really scientifically accurate - this is more of a "Be yourself" book. So I wouldn't use it for a caterpillar to butterfly story time. Fortunately, there are a TON of those available so this will fit in nicely with the Be true to Yourself story time themes.
Not really scientifically accurate - this is more of a "Be yourself" book. So I wouldn't use it for a caterpillar to butterfly story time. Fortunately, there are a TON of those available so this will fit in nicely with the Be true to Yourself story time themes.
October 25, 2023
In this charming story, we meet Charley, a monarch caterpillar who is more interested in enjoying nature than obeying the elder butterflies urging to constantly eat his milkweed. He has trouble concentrating on lessons of how to be a butterfly and think orange and black. After the caterpillars form their chrysalises and hatch, Charley is the last one to emerge. Rather than the black and orange like all the others, Charley's wings had become all the colors in nature that he "had ever loved."
Accompanying the imaginative text are wonderfully bright and colorful illustrations that reflect the mood of the story. The black and orange endpapers are vivid and add an appealing decorative element. Young children should enjoy not only the vivid illustrations but also the gentle message that being a little different is okay.
Accompanying the imaginative text are wonderfully bright and colorful illustrations that reflect the mood of the story. The black and orange endpapers are vivid and add an appealing decorative element. Young children should enjoy not only the vivid illustrations but also the gentle message that being a little different is okay.
December 19, 2023
Gorgeous pictures as Charley the caterpillar not only eats his milkweed but notices the beautiful things around him, like waterfalls and stars. The monarch butterflies insist that there is only one way to be a monarch: black and orange, but Charley keeps getting distracted. Of course, he comes out beautiful in his own unique way. This would absolutely work for storytime, but I worried that the vocal minority would have a conniption that it is about being transgender. Fortunately, it can also be about any rigid boxes that society/family may force a child into that don't fit, like boys who aren't into sports, or girls who aren't into sparkly dresses. Use for butterfly themes, or being yourself.
January 29, 2024
A wonderfully adorable story about being who you are. Told by a small caterpillar named Charley, who is always told to remember the specific pattern and color his wings (think orange and black) are supposed to have and to always eat his milkweed regularly by the butterfly teachers. But Charley thinks about the beauty of nature around him such as the waterfall flowing, the way the sun looks, and the stars in the night sky. But when it came to it, his wings became the colors of things he always loved and adored.
The illustrations alone were absolutely adorable but seeing the wonder in Charley's eyes and the way that Charley blossoms in being different than everyone else made it a joy to read.
The illustrations alone were absolutely adorable but seeing the wonder in Charley's eyes and the way that Charley blossoms in being different than everyone else made it a joy to read.
December 3, 2023
“Charley looked up.”
And because he looks up, he sees things that the other caterpillars don’t see: the sun, the sky, mountains, the stars and more. Charley is not sure he wants to be a butterfly. Maybe it would be better to be a fawn or a waterfall. During lessons, it’s hard for Charley to pay attention with all the other things to look at, so when the day comes to enter the Chrysalis, Charley’s not sure what comes next. And when he emerges, later than the others, he’s not the orange and black of the other butterflies. Instead, the butterfly is “everything Charley had ever loved.”
Beautiful book.
And because he looks up, he sees things that the other caterpillars don’t see: the sun, the sky, mountains, the stars and more. Charley is not sure he wants to be a butterfly. Maybe it would be better to be a fawn or a waterfall. During lessons, it’s hard for Charley to pay attention with all the other things to look at, so when the day comes to enter the Chrysalis, Charley’s not sure what comes next. And when he emerges, later than the others, he’s not the orange and black of the other butterflies. Instead, the butterfly is “everything Charley had ever loved.”
Beautiful book.
July 3, 2023
This is a cute fictional story of a rebellious caterpillar that breaks the mold when it's time to become a butterfly. While it is definitely not scientifically accurate, I LOVE that this book highlights the caterpillars' food source milkweed. All butterflies and moths need a specific plant to lay their eggs on and I wish more children's books about bugs would make note of the significance of native plants for native bugs! Remember, if you're going to make a pollinator garden DIVERSITY IS KEY.
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April 9, 2024A young caterpillar is trying to concentrate on his lessons that explain how to become a butterfly but keeps getting distracted by the beauty in the world around him. I’m not too sure that caterpillars need to think about orange and black patterns to become orange and black, so there’s a bit of a weird premise in this one but the illustrations are lovely and kids might enjoy the story about pursing your own interests anyway.
May 22, 2023
Nice illustrations and a fairly typical message about being yourself. Parents and educators looking for butterfly books should know that this one is a parable where Charley turns into a multi-colored, totally unique butterfly, not a story that represents the course of nature for developing Monarch butterflies.
June 6, 2023
6/4/2023 ~ Perhaps not the book about caterpillars if you're studying the transformation from caterpillar to Monarchs. It might be interesting to talk with kids about the science behind why Charley looks different than the other butterflies around him.
I found this book on the New Book display at the C. Burr Artz Public Library in Frederick, Maryland.
I found this book on the New Book display at the C. Burr Artz Public Library in Frederick, Maryland.
August 14, 2023
"Charley hadn't decided [whether he wanted to grow up to be a big, strong butterfly]. It might be nice to be a spotted fawn. Or a waterfall. Wouldn't that be fun?"
All of the other monarch caterpillars around Charley are content to follow the rules and aspire to look the same, but Charley is more enticed by the wider world. The end result of this is beautiful.
All of the other monarch caterpillars around Charley are content to follow the rules and aspire to look the same, but Charley is more enticed by the wider world. The end result of this is beautiful.
October 23, 2023
This narrative story about a young caterpillar reluctant to change into a butterfly just like everyone else serves also as a parable to give readers license to challenge traditional norms in embracing oneself. Beautifully illustrated in showing the group of alike monarchs, Wise also shows the amazing contrast when Charly emerges.
November 21, 2023
“Is there really just one right way to become a butterfly?” What a thoughtful question! Gorgeous illustrations emphasize how wonder-full the world is when we allow ourselves the freedom to explore all the possibilities and discover our true self. This beautiful story is a manifesto of self-empowerment for all the caterpillars who dream of becoming butterflies. Bravo!
June 7, 2023
3.5 stars--Delightfully sweet illustrations and a message about staying true to yourself and realizing there is more than one way to grow up. This would be a nice book to share with a child who learns or thinks a bit differently than their peers.
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June 20, 2023Turn/Level: 1/3
Butterflies, Caterpillars, Growing Up, Exploring, Breaking the Mold
Tells the story of the caterpillar Charlie, whose curious nature and love for his environment cause him to grow into a rather unique butterfly.
Butterflies, Caterpillars, Growing Up, Exploring, Breaking the Mold
Tells the story of the caterpillar Charlie, whose curious nature and love for his environment cause him to grow into a rather unique butterfly.
June 26, 2023
Guess I need to add to my review that we did not read this for the scientific schematic and research of how a caterpillar becomes a butterfly. I thought this was lovely artwork and the story was sweet about how Charley was a little unfocused on being like everyone else, but transformed into the butterfly they wanted to be.
June 25, 2023
Charley is a caterpillar of a different color---he appreciates all he sees and is not your typical monarch. A story to celebrate being true to yourself. A very confusing book to elementary schoolers studying Monarch migration, or waiting for a multi-colored butter to emerge from their chrysalis!
October 27, 2023
A story about the life of a caterpillar to the butterfly stage of a Monarch butterfly. Big beautiful illustrations and Charley the caterpillar's journey from larva to butterfly. Love these science picture books with all the colorful illustrations.
June 3, 2024
I read this book as an adult reader for the AR Diamond Book Award. This book has an overall good message about being yourself and blazing your own path even when everyone else takes a different one. Beautiful and colorful illustrations!
July 24, 2024
Cute story, if not scientifically sound. Charley the caterpillar is different, and appreciates the beauty of the world around him. When in his chrysalis, he doesn't think "Orange and Black" but remembers the stars, the mountains, flowers, and more. Emerging, his wings are multi colored.
October 16, 2024
"A striking, modern-day take on The Very Hungry Caterpillar that celebrates staying true to oneself."
Literally could not say it better myself. It's hard to beat the original, but this one is pretty cute, too.
Literally could not say it better myself. It's hard to beat the original, but this one is pretty cute, too.
May 7, 2023
Euphemistic but sweetly affirming.
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June 3, 2023a beautiful exploration of being different
June 16, 2023
3 stars (I liked it)
This book had a good message about being yourself but I found it to be a little too similar to other books about being yourself. The illustrations are beautiful though!
This book had a good message about being yourself but I found it to be a little too similar to other books about being yourself. The illustrations are beautiful though!
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June 22, 2023About being true to yourself even as you grow up.
July 1, 2023
Cute, but it could have been better. I do like the idea that we can become what we work towards.
July 17, 2023
The ending felt a bit abrupt (I would’ve loved one more page), but still a sweet story with beautiful illustrations and a valuable message about being true to oneself.
August 9, 2023
A caterpillar who thought differently. The ending was a little strange for me.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews