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Caterpillar Summer is a children’s book for ages 9 to 12.
Henry (who prefers to be called Chicken) and Cat are two children living in San Francisco with their mother, Amanda, an author of illustrated children’s books. She has created a series featuring characters based on her children, naming them Chicken and Caterpillar.
Caterpillar (“Cat”) is just finishing up fifth grade, and is responsible and kind. Chicken, her little brother is in first grade and, is unique and needs her help a lot. The three of them are traveling to Atlanta for three weeks, where their mother is teaching a seminar at a college.
Their neighbors and friends the Krishnamurthys just moved to Atlanta, and the kids will be living with them while their mother is working. Cat is thrilled as she is best friends with Rishi Krishnamurthy, and misses him. Soon after they land in Atlanta, they get a text that Rishi’s family had to go to India immediately as his grandmother had a stroke.
After a few phone calls, their mother comes up with a plan. The kids will visit her estranged parents in North Carolina. Lily and Macon live on Gingerbread Island and the location seems ideal for shark-loving Chicken, but the kids had never met these grandparents.
Cat’s doubts are assuaged when they arrive and meet sweet Grandma Lily and the somewhat reserved Grandpa Macon, and see their house with a view of the dunes and water. They explore the small town, enjoy the library and meet a few kids. Cat knows she will still need to watch Chicken, who hates loud noises, gets upset and runs off and disappears. It is a huge task for such a young child.
Cat’s dream is to reunite her family when her mother Amanda comes for weekend visits. Macon is teaching Cat to fish, just like he taught Amanda years ago. Will Cat and Chicken make friends? Will the family ever reconcile?
