September 1, 2015
Grades 2-4 Life is easy for butterflies in the menagerie, especially for Westly, future butterfly princeuntil Westly's transformation goes horribly wrong. Instead of a winged butterfly, he emerges from his cocoon with eight legs and a bulbous abdomen. Having never seen a spider before, his community recoils, and Westly flees into the forest. There he is welcomed by the dirt eaters he shunned as a caterpillar. His transition from the elite world of the butterflies to the gritty floor of the menagerie is hard, however, which makes Westly easy prey for a smooth-talking raven who initially seems supportive but has ulterior motives. Spurred by a drive to save everyone in the menagerie, Westly unites the insect and spider worlds and saves the day. Rich language paints lush images of life under the glass, and the author's illustrations capture the characters' cartoonish charm. While the uneven plot development and overpowering moral messages bog down the story, fans of animal tales who don't mind a few life lessons thrown in with their fiction will appreciate this breezy chapter book.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)