Toestomper and the Caterpillars

Sharleen Collicott's story is very well constructed and teaches about the fruitlessness of anger and selfishness, but more importantly shows the ability of someone to change and transform into a caring and nurturing person. The artwork is really quite excellent, I highly recommend this book to anyone who reads to or with young ones.

The story is so very sweet,this big bad bully became a warm wonderful caretaker. Tha Art in the book is so cute. You just love O'Toestomper! Under all that Bad Guy stuff he is a real lover. Good job! We loved it. Thank you.

My 3 year old "discovered" this book after I heard about it on NPR. After previewing it at the library it was at the top of his Christmas list. Ever since, we read it daily with him demanding that I "do the voices". For parents who like to dramatize their readings, this book is a treasure. Colorful characters and excellent illustrations bring a funny tale of a tough guy who finds his soft side and learns to be a friend to smaller animals. Others may question the look and attitude of Toestomper and his cohorts, but I judge books by the reaction of my child. We've read it at least 50 times and so far the only change in his behaviour I've seen is that when he sees smaller children or little animals he says "We should be nice to them...like Toestomper."

Thanks to my five-year-old son, I've probably read this book 200 times by now. His assessment: "I just like it." Mine: It's an entertaining story that shows kids (especially crashy-bashy boys) the value of nurturing and caring for others, and that they can establish and stick to their own values even if their friends don't agree--all with an approach that's not the usual tedious "Children's Book of Virtues" fare. I could have lived without the cheating-at-cards element--otherwise top rate.

First of all, any book with a name like Toestomper has a good start. And when you look at the expressions on the caterpillar's faces on the front cover, you can tell it's a must-read. It's a great story that isn't cute. It's written simply and well, and the pictures are beautiful and detailed, not to mention very funny. Our whole family loved it.