Review by Booklist Review
Butterfly is heading south to Mexico while Worm plans to stay behind in this second buddy tale by Windness. Their impending separation saddens them, though Butterfly assures Worm they'll be reunited when it's warm. When snow covers the ground, Worm cuddles down in an underground nest but is surprised to find a Steller's jay tapping on the acorn-cap door up above. Assured that the unexpected visitor is more of a nut eater that prefers the cold to flying south like Jay's best friend, Robin, the worm and bird duo decide to be lonely together. Cozy depictions of underground living in rosy pinks and soft purples with snowy outdoor adventures cast in teal blue give a warm feeling to the illustrations. While it's a bit misleading that Worm frolics outdoors when the end matter explains they hibernate through winter, for the sake of a sweet story about how friends can't always be together, this is a winner both as a tale about friendship and for providing hibernation and migration information to beginning readers.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A loving bond is tested over distance and time in this gentle follow-up toWorm and Caterpillar Are Friends (2023). Pink-and-purple Worm and rainbow-hued Butterfly are best friends, and according to Worm, that means they should always stick together. Soon, a chilly breeze blows in the first snowflakes of winter. Worm instinctively knows it's time to burrow underground, lay an egg, and sleep, but although Worm's nest is very hospitable, Butterfly must fly to Mexico, where it's much warmer. Pledging to return, Butterfly flaps south, and Worm retreats to the nest, feeling abandoned. The arrival of Bird--whose BFF has also left--helps Worm realize that Butterfly may be gone, but their friendship will always endure. Their eventual reunion includes a special surprise, a new character hatched while Butterfly was migrating back home. The depth of emotion is evident on the characters' faces and in their body language: the sad curled-up position struck by Worm while alone, the compassion in Bird's eyes, and the overwhelming joy in Butterfly's gestures when Worm refers to them as a family. Windness' gorgeously saturated colors pop against the whimsical backgrounds--icy snowscapes, buoyant spring landscapes, even the velvety soil burrow. Backmatter briefly describes bird and butterfly migration, the diet of various bird species, and worm estivation. A heartwarming story of found family that readers will flock to again and again.(Graphic early reader. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
