Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews (Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 CST 2023)

Besties Worm and Caterpillar share lessons on friendship in this graphic novel for early readers.While pink and purple Worm tends to notice what the two pals have in common, green and orange Caterpillar is fast to point out that they're not the same. They may both be afraid of birds, but Caterpillar loves leaves while Worm eats dirt. Worm crawls on their belly, but Caterpillar has legs (16 of them!). Keen readers will understand quickly why Caterpillar is concerned-Worm says they're best friends "because we are the same!" and Caterpillar knows that things are bound to change. In fact, as Caterpillar spins their chrysalis, Worm is already worrying about their altered buddy. And by the time Caterpillar is ready to emerge, they fret that Worm may no longer like them. When Caterpillar (now Butterfly) pops out, Worm is initially afraid, but with care and trust, Worm is able to accept and love Butterfly for who they've always been. Worm learns along with readers that love is not a surface-level emotion and that true connections bind us deeply to each other. The art is joyful, colorful, and expressive, with emotions reading perfectly on the cartoon insects' faces. Overall, it's an appealing read with a message of acceptance that caregivers will be able to easily apply to real life.Warm and delightful, this tale will stay with readers long after they turn the last page. (Graphic early reader. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

Besties Worm and Caterpillar share lessons on friendship in this graphic novel for early readers.While pink and purple Worm tends to notice what the two pals have in common, green and orange Caterpillar is fast to point out that they're not the same. They may both be afraid of birds, but Caterpillar loves leaves while Worm eats dirt. Worm crawls on their belly, but Caterpillar has legs (16 of them!). Keen readers will understand quickly why Caterpillar is concerned-Worm says they're best friends "because we are the same!" and Caterpillar knows that things are bound to change. In fact, as Caterpillar spins their chrysalis, Worm is already worrying about their altered buddy. And by the time Caterpillar is ready to emerge, they fret that Worm may no longer like them. When Caterpillar (now Butterfly) pops out, Worm is initially afraid, but with care and trust, Worm is able to accept and love Butterfly for who they've always been. Worm learns along with readers that love is not a surface-level emotion and that true connections bind us deeply to each other. The art is joyful, colorful, and expressive, with emotions reading perfectly on the cartoon insects' faces. Overall, it's an appealing read with a message of acceptance that caregivers will be able to easily apply to real life.Warm and delightful, this tale will stay with readers long after they turn the last page. (Graphic early reader. 4-8)

School Library Journal (Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 CST 2023)

PreS-Gr 2 —Windness's comic for young readers explores the nature of evolving relationships with gentle humor. The titular earth-bound friends carry out a simple, flowing conversation as they idyll through a fall day. Worm assumes they understand a static set of facts about their friend, and Caterpillar patiently and deliberately challenges their assumptions. Worm tries to discuss the similarities between themself and Caterpillar, like their lack of legs (Caterpillar has legs!), their dirt-based diet (wrong again!), and their mutual fear of birds (this one's true!). But while Worm clings to the present moment, Caterpillar carefully tries to prepare them for the future, since caterpillars, of course, must change in a rather dramatic fashion. Though the direction of the plot is well-worn—a caterpillar becomes a butterfly—the emotional interplay between a friend seeking surface similarities and a friend nourishing a deep connection is subtle and satisfying. What sets this title apart from similar tales of animal amity are Windness's full-page watercolor backdrops, deep and rich with purple, green, and orange, conjuring a magical, fading fall twilight. Windness also brings a buzzing energy to her characters, with raised eyebrows and body language between the pair doing as much work as words. VERDICT A straightforward, satisfying treatise on friendship weathering difference and change, with richly colored, lively illustrations, this title offers a lovely, light reading experience for early readers.—Emilia Packard