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The Woolly Bear Caterpillar
From Julia Donaldson, bestselling author of The Gruffalo, and award-winning illustrator Yuval Zommer, comes a charming minibeast twist on the ugly duckling story.
Crawling through the garden, the little Woolly Bear Caterpillar wonders what kind of moth she will become. Bonny and bright, stunning and smart, but not kind, the other caterpillars laugh at the small, plain Woolly Bear. There is one thing that they are sure of: Woolly Bear could never be as beautiful as them! But could one little caterpillar be about to undergo a truly terrific transformation?
Brilliantly written and stunningly illustrated this engaging picture book comes complete with a non-fiction mini book written by a nature specialist.
Crawling through the garden, the little Woolly Bear Caterpillar wonders what kind of moth she will become. Bonny and bright, stunning and smart, but not kind, the other caterpillars laugh at the small, plain Woolly Bear. There is one thing that they are sure of: Woolly Bear could never be as beautiful as them! But could one little caterpillar be about to undergo a truly terrific transformation?
Brilliantly written and stunningly illustrated this engaging picture book comes complete with a non-fiction mini book written by a nature specialist.
32 pages, Hardcover
Published June 24, 2021
1 person is currently reading
71 people want to read
About the author
Julia Donaldson
1,239 books1,941 followersGrowing up
I grew up in a tall Victorian London house with my parents, grandmother, aunt, uncle, younger sister Mary and cat Geoffrey (who was really a prince in disguise. Mary and I would argue about which of us would marry him).
Mary and I were always creating imaginary characters and mimicking real ones, and I used to write shows and choreograph ballets for us. A wind-up gramophone wafted out Chopin waltzes.
I studied Drama and French at Bristol University, where I met Malcolm, a guitar-playing medic to whom I’m now married.
Busking and books
Before Malcolm and I had our three sons we used to go busking together and I would write special songs for each country; the best one was in Italian about pasta.
The busking led to a career in singing and songwriting, mainly for children’s television. I became an expert at writing to order on such subjects as guinea pigs, window-cleaning and horrible smells. “We want a song about throwing crumpled-up wrapping paper into the bin” was a typical request from the BBC.
I also continued to write “grown-up” songs and perform them in folk clubs and on the radio, and have recently released two CDs of these songs.
One of my television songs, A SQUASH AND A SQUEEZE, was made into a book in 1993, with illustrations by the wonderful Axel Scheffler. It was great to hold the book in my hand without it vanishing in the air the way the songs did. This prompted me to unearth some plays I’d written for a school reading group, and since then I’ve had 20 plays published. Most children love acting and it’s a tremendous way to improve their reading.
My real breakthrough was THE GRUFFALO, again illustrated by Axel. We work separately - he’s in London and I’m in Glasgow - but he sends me letters with lovely funny pictures on the envelopes.
I really enjoy writing verse, even though it can be fiendishly difficult. I used to memorise poems as a child and it means a lot to me when parents tell me their child can recite one of my books.
Funnily enough, I find it harder to write not in verse, though I feel I am now getting the hang of it! My novel THE GIANTS AND THE JONESES is going to be made into a film by the same team who made the Harry Potter movies, and I have written three books of stories about the anarchic PRINCESS MIRROR-BELLE who appears from the mirror and disrupts the life of an otherwise ordinary eight-year-old. I have just finished writing a novel for teenagers.
When I’m not writing I am often performing, at book festivals and in theatres. I really enjoy getting the children in the audience to help me act out the stories and sing the songs. When Malcolm can take time off from the hospital he and his guitar come too. and it feels as if we’ve come full circle - back to busking.
I grew up in a tall Victorian London house with my parents, grandmother, aunt, uncle, younger sister Mary and cat Geoffrey (who was really a prince in disguise. Mary and I would argue about which of us would marry him).
Mary and I were always creating imaginary characters and mimicking real ones, and I used to write shows and choreograph ballets for us. A wind-up gramophone wafted out Chopin waltzes.
I studied Drama and French at Bristol University, where I met Malcolm, a guitar-playing medic to whom I’m now married.
Busking and books
Before Malcolm and I had our three sons we used to go busking together and I would write special songs for each country; the best one was in Italian about pasta.
The busking led to a career in singing and songwriting, mainly for children’s television. I became an expert at writing to order on such subjects as guinea pigs, window-cleaning and horrible smells. “We want a song about throwing crumpled-up wrapping paper into the bin” was a typical request from the BBC.
I also continued to write “grown-up” songs and perform them in folk clubs and on the radio, and have recently released two CDs of these songs.
One of my television songs, A SQUASH AND A SQUEEZE, was made into a book in 1993, with illustrations by the wonderful Axel Scheffler. It was great to hold the book in my hand without it vanishing in the air the way the songs did. This prompted me to unearth some plays I’d written for a school reading group, and since then I’ve had 20 plays published. Most children love acting and it’s a tremendous way to improve their reading.
My real breakthrough was THE GRUFFALO, again illustrated by Axel. We work separately - he’s in London and I’m in Glasgow - but he sends me letters with lovely funny pictures on the envelopes.
I really enjoy writing verse, even though it can be fiendishly difficult. I used to memorise poems as a child and it means a lot to me when parents tell me their child can recite one of my books.
Funnily enough, I find it harder to write not in verse, though I feel I am now getting the hang of it! My novel THE GIANTS AND THE JONESES is going to be made into a film by the same team who made the Harry Potter movies, and I have written three books of stories about the anarchic PRINCESS MIRROR-BELLE who appears from the mirror and disrupts the life of an otherwise ordinary eight-year-old. I have just finished writing a novel for teenagers.
When I’m not writing I am often performing, at book festivals and in theatres. I really enjoy getting the children in the audience to help me act out the stories and sing the songs. When Malcolm can take time off from the hospital he and his guitar come too. and it feels as if we’ve come full circle - back to busking.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
June 24, 2021
It goes without saying that we're big fans of Donaldson in our house, the engaging fun rhymes with various memorable characters makes it easy to see why she's so phenomenally popular.
We're always on the lookout for her next release.
So when I spotted that her local bookshop in Steyning was hosting a signing, we just had to go!
The event itself was a delight, from caterpillar biscuits to her husband Michael playing songs on the guitar.
This was my daughters first book signing and after a year of lockdowns it was amazing to be able to take her to something like this.
Of course Julia is wonderfully nice in real life too!
The book itself is sure to be another hit.
It tells the story of a Wooly Bear Caterpillar on the hunt for more dandelions and comes across three other types of caterpillar who boast that they are better looking than her.
Illustrations are such an important part of children's books and the beautifully realised Sycamore, Vapourer and Puss Caterpillars are so strikingly similar to the real life counterparts.
I must admit that I'd also learnt from this story as my edition included an additional non fiction book by the Sussex Wildlife Trusts Michael Blencowe detailing some flashy and bright species of Caterpillar can turn into dull looking Butterfly's and vice versa.
It's so much more enjoyable when you learn something new during bedtime stories.
We're always on the lookout for her next release.
So when I spotted that her local bookshop in Steyning was hosting a signing, we just had to go!
The event itself was a delight, from caterpillar biscuits to her husband Michael playing songs on the guitar.
This was my daughters first book signing and after a year of lockdowns it was amazing to be able to take her to something like this.
Of course Julia is wonderfully nice in real life too!
The book itself is sure to be another hit.
It tells the story of a Wooly Bear Caterpillar on the hunt for more dandelions and comes across three other types of caterpillar who boast that they are better looking than her.
Illustrations are such an important part of children's books and the beautifully realised Sycamore, Vapourer and Puss Caterpillars are so strikingly similar to the real life counterparts.
I must admit that I'd also learnt from this story as my edition included an additional non fiction book by the Sussex Wildlife Trusts Michael Blencowe detailing some flashy and bright species of Caterpillar can turn into dull looking Butterfly's and vice versa.
It's so much more enjoyable when you learn something new during bedtime stories.
August 18, 2021
We love everything Julia Donaldson and The Woolly Bear Caterpillar is no exception. It has been read and enjoyed over and over.
The Woolly Bear Caterpillar is a brilliantly written picture book with stunningly illustrated garden scenes, in double spread, with a myriad of insect life on each page. The story is immersive and has an element of suspense as we wait to see each caterpillar emerge from it's cocoon.
Julia Donaldson uses repetition and alliteration to engage a young audience.
The themes of boasting and pride before a fall give rise to further discussion on the topic and the use of real-life caterpillars, that can be found in the family garden, gives the picture book an educational twist.
At the back of the book is an additional soft cover non-fiction mini book filled with photos and facts about caterpillars and moths.
The children loved discussing which of the caterpillars we have seen in our garden. We are very much on the look-out for a Tiger moth now!
TWBC is the perfect book to add some fun science based learning into your child's day.
Ages: 4 - 10 years
*I received a copy from the publisher
The Woolly Bear Caterpillar is a brilliantly written picture book with stunningly illustrated garden scenes, in double spread, with a myriad of insect life on each page. The story is immersive and has an element of suspense as we wait to see each caterpillar emerge from it's cocoon.
Julia Donaldson uses repetition and alliteration to engage a young audience.
The themes of boasting and pride before a fall give rise to further discussion on the topic and the use of real-life caterpillars, that can be found in the family garden, gives the picture book an educational twist.
At the back of the book is an additional soft cover non-fiction mini book filled with photos and facts about caterpillars and moths.
The children loved discussing which of the caterpillars we have seen in our garden. We are very much on the look-out for a Tiger moth now!
TWBC is the perfect book to add some fun science based learning into your child's day.
Ages: 4 - 10 years
*I received a copy from the publisher
May 25, 2022
Wonderfully illustrated and instructive, a story of humility and a twist on the ugly duckling story (Isn't nature wonderful?). As for the message (spoiler), the fact that the moth's beauty was the reason it became the "queen of the garden", I'm not sure I liked in the end. The caterpillar was so humble and nice to everyone, I wish it was made more clear in the end that it was beautiful from the start because of its heart.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 26, 2021
Another fab book from Julia Donaldson. The Woolly Bear Caterpillar is on the search for more dandelions to munch on after a gardener pulls up the ones he had been eating. As he is on his search he comes across three different caterpillers, all bright and bold in colour. These caterpillars are very boastful about this and remark on how beautiful their butterfly wings will be and how dull and boring Woolley Bears are likely to be. As the story unfolds and each caterpillar weaves their cocoon to transform inside, the young readers will discover the importance of not judging a book by its cover and that it’s what’s on this inside that counts.
The story is told with some rhyming text but not all the text is that way. With some lovely illustrations to support the story on the pages. A lovely way to introduce young children to the life cycles of caterpillars and shares a fab message.
A great news book from Julia Donaldson which I am sure children will enjoy!
** I received an advanced copy of this ebook to read and review. Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for allowing me this opportunity. **
The story is told with some rhyming text but not all the text is that way. With some lovely illustrations to support the story on the pages. A lovely way to introduce young children to the life cycles of caterpillars and shares a fab message.
A great news book from Julia Donaldson which I am sure children will enjoy!
** I received an advanced copy of this ebook to read and review. Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for allowing me this opportunity. **
June 21, 2021
Grandson loves this book! He said 100 stars!!!
June 17, 2023
Super ilus, armas ja hariv raamat ✨️👌❤️
May 23, 2021
My review will be live on my blog on 24th June 2021 - publication day!
I read this book with my nature loving three year old daughter and it was a massive hit - as I hoped it would be!
She loved the story and the characters in the book and as soon as we had finished she asked for me to read it to her again, and again! There is no hesitation that it is a 5 star read from her!
As a mum I thought it was lovely, I loved the illustrations, the books was fun and informative and I loved the focus - in our house we do love all things Julia Donaldson, even typing this I can see a stuffed Zog teddy in the corner of the room!
It is 5 stars for this one, a brilliant book and one we will be very highly recommending - we loved it!!
I read this book with my nature loving three year old daughter and it was a massive hit - as I hoped it would be!
She loved the story and the characters in the book and as soon as we had finished she asked for me to read it to her again, and again! There is no hesitation that it is a 5 star read from her!
As a mum I thought it was lovely, I loved the illustrations, the books was fun and informative and I loved the focus - in our house we do love all things Julia Donaldson, even typing this I can see a stuffed Zog teddy in the corner of the room!
It is 5 stars for this one, a brilliant book and one we will be very highly recommending - we loved it!!
December 20, 2021
A refreshing departure from Donaldson's normal rhyming offerings. Gorgeous text supports a stylish ugly duckling type tale which is all based on genuine moth physiology. I love it! Divine illustrations transport readers to the very heart of the garden and woodlands. The bonus nature fact booklet included is guaranteed to delight the budding lepidopterist or person who really digs moths.
April 9, 2022
Jutuke ilusatest röövikutest, kes loodavad saada veel kaunimateks liblikateks. Tagasihoidliku välimusega päevakoera röövikust eeldatakse aga ilmetust ka liblikana. Hea raamat arutleda eelarvamuste teemal ning kuna kaasas on ka teabevihik röövikute ja ööliblikate kohta, saab ka neid uudistada.
August 14, 2024
A little woolly bear caterpillar is in search of a new home, as the garden she was living in was stripped of her food source. As she ventures to the woods outside, she meets other caterpillars who are much more flashy and colorful that her plain appearance. Their boastfulness puts down, but she is not in despair as she takes her final meal and prepares to pupate into her new form.
There are two takeaways from The Woolly Bear Caterpillar. The first is learning the lifecycles & introducing moth caterpillars to readers. The second, and just as important, is to learn not to judge others by their appearance. In the story, the other caterpillars brag about how they look so much better than our protagonist that she almost feels ashamed until her final transformation. Indeed sometimes the biggest changes take place over a longer timespan. I found the text and illustrations to be equally balanced in both taking up the pages greatly. Donaldson uses a rhyming tone that allows us to follow the caterpillar easily. And Zommer's illustrations are so detailed and reminiscent of a style similar to Eric Carle's! I swear the art is very beautiful that each page is so full of details of nature, I spent a few minutes spotting the bugs that were hidden in the background! At the end, there is a booklet that explains the basics of moths & caterpillars and showing readers how to do their own tracking of the moths they could find in their own backyard.
I really liked The Woolly Bear Caterpillar story, fulling meeting my satisfaction in a good story and outstanding illustrations to add on its words. It almost sounds like another caterpillar book I read in the past (for those interested it's Clara Caterpillar). Supporting both learning about nature and promoting a good moral message, this book deserves five stars!
There are two takeaways from The Woolly Bear Caterpillar. The first is learning the lifecycles & introducing moth caterpillars to readers. The second, and just as important, is to learn not to judge others by their appearance. In the story, the other caterpillars brag about how they look so much better than our protagonist that she almost feels ashamed until her final transformation. Indeed sometimes the biggest changes take place over a longer timespan. I found the text and illustrations to be equally balanced in both taking up the pages greatly. Donaldson uses a rhyming tone that allows us to follow the caterpillar easily. And Zommer's illustrations are so detailed and reminiscent of a style similar to Eric Carle's! I swear the art is very beautiful that each page is so full of details of nature, I spent a few minutes spotting the bugs that were hidden in the background! At the end, there is a booklet that explains the basics of moths & caterpillars and showing readers how to do their own tracking of the moths they could find in their own backyard.
I really liked The Woolly Bear Caterpillar story, fulling meeting my satisfaction in a good story and outstanding illustrations to add on its words. It almost sounds like another caterpillar book I read in the past (for those interested it's Clara Caterpillar). Supporting both learning about nature and promoting a good moral message, this book deserves five stars!
August 25, 2024
A woolly bear caterpillar leaves her garden in search of new dandelions to munch. She encounters other caterpillars that she thinks are much more colorful and interesting. They are all bragging and boasting about what beautiful moths they will become. They aren't very nice to Woolly Bear.
Then one day they all spin their cocoons and wait to transform into.... rather dull gray and brown moths. Except for woolly bear! She turns into a beautiful Garden Tiger Moth! To their credit - the other moths do applaud Garden Tiger Moth on her beauty. The moral of the story is - don't judge a moth by its caterpillar!
I like this book! Most books on metamorphosis focus on caterpillars turning into butterflies so it was nice to see one that is about caterpillars that turn into moths. There is lots of factual information included in a small book that is attached to the back cover. Garden Tiger Moths used to be very common but have been declining in recent years - so there is also a bit of a cautionary tone to help little critters survive. You don't really have to pull up ALL the dandelions - save a few for the woolly bear to munch on.
Then one day they all spin their cocoons and wait to transform into.... rather dull gray and brown moths. Except for woolly bear! She turns into a beautiful Garden Tiger Moth! To their credit - the other moths do applaud Garden Tiger Moth on her beauty. The moral of the story is - don't judge a moth by its caterpillar!
I like this book! Most books on metamorphosis focus on caterpillars turning into butterflies so it was nice to see one that is about caterpillars that turn into moths. There is lots of factual information included in a small book that is attached to the back cover. Garden Tiger Moths used to be very common but have been declining in recent years - so there is also a bit of a cautionary tone to help little critters survive. You don't really have to pull up ALL the dandelions - save a few for the woolly bear to munch on.
June 23, 2024
Woolly Bear Caterpillar is like a beauty pageant, who is the most beautiful?
The Woolly bear is a very plain caterpillar. She is brown and not so amazing. She meets all these different types of caterpillars who are so colorful and beautiful. She feels so boring next to them. They know they are beautiful too. They all contemplate who lovely they will be as a moth.
So, all four of these caterpillar's cocoon up. The other three emerge and they are all plain brown moths, not much special about them. The Woolly Bear Caterpillar emerges with all this color and patterns. She is beautiful. The others are now jealous of her. Sometimes, the later bloom is the most beautiful.
The artwork was fun and colorful. These weird caterpillar's work well on the page.
I think this is the kind of story kids will like. It's sort of gross and sort of cool and sort of fun.
The Woolly bear is a very plain caterpillar. She is brown and not so amazing. She meets all these different types of caterpillars who are so colorful and beautiful. She feels so boring next to them. They know they are beautiful too. They all contemplate who lovely they will be as a moth.
So, all four of these caterpillar's cocoon up. The other three emerge and they are all plain brown moths, not much special about them. The Woolly Bear Caterpillar emerges with all this color and patterns. She is beautiful. The others are now jealous of her. Sometimes, the later bloom is the most beautiful.
The artwork was fun and colorful. These weird caterpillar's work well on the page.
I think this is the kind of story kids will like. It's sort of gross and sort of cool and sort of fun.
February 13, 2025
There are tons of books about butterflies, but what about those caterpillars that turn into moths? This is that book! Donaldson dives into the world of the moth caterpillars in a fun way throughout this picture books. But she also includes a nonfiction nature book all about caterpillars, moths, their life cycles, and biology. Together, this duo helps kids of all ages get excited about different types of caterpillars and the idea of metamorphosis. Highly recommend this fun and engaging book!
Find it in our SHARE Catalog today!
Ashley C. / Milton Public Library #CheckOutMPL
Find it in our SHARE Catalog today!
Ashley C. / Milton Public Library #CheckOutMPL
January 9, 2026
A twist on the ugly duckling tale, this children’s book is cute and endearing but stops just short of the age appropriate moral it is resting on. We have a kind hearted caterpillar who is teased by other, more colorful or interesting caterpillars who are confident that they will be the most beautiful butterfly. The woolly bear ends up outshining them once transformed, but the book leaves it up to the reader to explain to the children in audience that the woolly bear’s beautiful nature was always more important than the external beauty. The other caterpillars, transformed into plain moths, had their inner nature matching their wings, as did the woolly bear, who was always more beautiful on the inside, and now matched on the outside for all to see.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 25, 2024
Chomp the Baby Gator enjoyed this captivating and educational story about growth, transformation, and self-acceptance.
The woolly bear caterpillar embarks on a journey through the garden, meeting various insects who boast about their future transformations. Despite their discouragement, the woolly bear remains hopeful and confident. As time passes, the caterpillar undergoes the transformation. The story highlights themes of self-belief, the magic of metamorphosis, and appreciating one’s own unique qualities. What kind of transformation will the woolly bear caterpillar undergo, and how will it surprise everyone in the garden?
The woolly bear caterpillar embarks on a journey through the garden, meeting various insects who boast about their future transformations. Despite their discouragement, the woolly bear remains hopeful and confident. As time passes, the caterpillar undergoes the transformation. The story highlights themes of self-belief, the magic of metamorphosis, and appreciating one’s own unique qualities. What kind of transformation will the woolly bear caterpillar undergo, and how will it surprise everyone in the garden?
December 25, 2022
Inetu pardipoja lugu päevakoera röövikust. Päevakoera röövik kohtub teiste röövikutega, kes on ilusamad ja arvavad, et nendest saavad kõige ilusamad liblikad. Tegelikult on kõige ilusam liblikas hoopis päevakoer.
April 14, 2025
Cute little story about a plain-looking caterpillar that longs to be colorful like his friends. Cute sing-songy text and unique full-page illustrations make this book a fascinating read. Longer text but lots of things to look at.
September 3, 2025
Still not sure how I feel about the point of this book (you get what’s coming? Don’t make fun of the ugly person? Puberty is coming for you? lol) but my 3.5 year old son loved this one and it’s a great tie into nature /nature talks the next time you see a caterpillar or a moth.
August 22, 2021
A great book about different types of caterpillars and how they change to moths.
November 1, 2021
Cute, missed Julia D's usual rhymes, but informative and fascinating.
April 6, 2022
Erinevate röövikute saamisest liblikaks. Kaasas ka kirjeldus ja vaatluspäevik. Värvikirev raamat
April 12, 2022
A great story with a wonderful message. Enjoyed by Miss 5.
May 14, 2022
Oh, mulle meeldib, kui on röövikutest raamat!
Ainult laulukesi tahaks originaaliga võrrelda, et millised need algselt olid.
Ainult laulukesi tahaks originaaliga võrrelda, et millised need algselt olid.
October 31, 2023
I have never heard of these moths before. Educational!
March 2, 2024
I definitely learned some things! This was sorely missing a social-emotional piece though, especially since there was straight-up bullying happening
December 18, 2024
The chosen font matches the illustrations and the story so well. Words are flowy and catchy, perfect for reading to a child.
June 12, 2025
“Everyone was bullies to her, but that’s okay, they turned out to be ugly and she was pretty.”
What the heck even was this book?
What the heck even was this book?
July 19, 2025
This tells the story of three caterpillars and how they brag about how beautiful they will be when they turn into a moth. They all scorn the woolly caterpillar because he is so plain.
February 21, 2026
There are tons of books about butterflies, but what about those caterpillars that turn into moths? This is that book! Donaldson dives into the world of the moth caterpillars in a fun way throughout this picture books. But she also includes a nonfiction nature book all about caterpillars, moths, their life cycles, and biology. Together, this duo helps kids of all ages get excited about different types of caterpillars and the idea of metamorphosis. Highly recommend this fun and engaging book!
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews