Fuse 8 n’ Kate: The Caterpillar and the Polliwog by Jack Kent (First in a Two-Part Series!)

Jack Kent returns!

Not content to rest on his laurels following our episode on There’s No Such Thing As a Dragon, we’ve decided to use one of Kent’s books in our VERY FIRST two-part series. And folks? I want you to guess the #2 in this series. Now this book was turned into a Weston Woods video but that’s not why it’s remembered today necessarily. If I had to make a guess, I’d say that this book is probably remembered primarily because teachers around the country have used it in the spring to show how metamorphosis works. Never mind that the science in this book is WOEFULLY inaccurate. So, in a way, this episode marks the return of the Nonfiction Stickler (which is to say, me). If YOU are a teacher who tends to use this book, allow me to direct your attention to a lovely 2025 publication called Papilio that is just as good as this book, but WAY more scientifically accurate.

Listen to the whole show here on Soundcloud or download it through iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, Google Play, PlayerFM, Audible, Amazon Music, or your preferred method of podcast selection.

Show Notes:

The bio mention was, Jack Kent: The Wit, Whimsy, and Wisdom of a Comic Storyteller by Paul V. Allen

Soooo… why does the caterpillar look like baba yaga? Why is she wearing a kerchief from the old country? Or is this supposed to be a stylish scarf for open-top riding in the car?

I’m sorry folks. But I looked into it after the show. As sure as shooting, “Butterflies have thin, straight, and long antennae with club-like tips, whereas moths have feathery, thick, comb-like antennae. Sometimes you have to look closely, but this is a great way to distinguish the two.” So, already, we’re off to a great start with Mr. Kent.

We love that the snail, utterly uninterested, turns away. But even though it takes 45 minutes to turn its back, she waits that entire time just in case he changes his mind.

We figure the only reason this turtle doesn’t eat this caterpillar is that technically there’s too much space between the two. Better that he just gently hurt her self-esteem instead.

Kate’s right. This is the ADHD book where no one can maintain a conversation for more than 10 seconds. My point is that the polliwog is VERY lucky not to have been eaten in the course of this conversation.

There’s something weirdly morose about this image.

Okay. I have SO MANY ISSUES with this image. Spinning a cocoon is for moths. Chrysalises are for butterflies. So this caterpillar is 100% a moth!! She is not grappling with the reality of her situation.

Except…

She IS a (super cute) moth after all! The book is lying to children!!

Adios, Oscar is the great picture book I mention about a caterpillar who thinks it’ll become a butterfly and can fly to Mexico, discovers it’s a moth, and decides to make the trip anyway. I LOVED that book. Bring it back into print!!!

Somewhere in the world, someone has this image and this quote tattooed onto their forearm.

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Filed under: Fuse 8 n' Kate