Children’s Book Review & Activities: Pipsie, Nature Detective

We love finding new fun and engaging children’s books! We visit the library weekly and have book collection that encompasses two large book shelves but in my opinion you can never have too many books! When the opportunity to review a new children’s book about the life cycle of the butterfly came up we were more than happy to give it a try!   {PS there’s a GIVEAWAY too! Enter below!}

Pipsie, Nature Detective: The Disappearing Caterpillar {Book Review}

I received a complimentary copy of this book to review. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. See full disclosure policy here. Post contains affiliate links for your convenience. 

Do your kids love exploring? If so then you HAVE to give this book a try!  Plus keep reading to find links to a free Pipsie activity kit that extends the learning with this book!

Pipsie, Nature Detective: The Disappearing Caterpillar (written by Rick DeDonato and illustrated by Tracy Bishop) is a charming new children’s book (with beautiful illustrations) that teaches children about the life cycle of a butterfly.

Pipsie loves everything wild—from dragonflies to oceans to tall, tall trees. She also loves solving mysteries. That’s why she’s a nature detective! When she and her turtle, Alfred, notice that their new friend, Frannie the caterpillar, has vanished, Pipsie is on the case. She grabs her magnifying glass, goes to her tree-house headquarters, and begins to search for clues. It’s time to make this mystery history!

As soon as  we pulled the book from the box my daughter and the daycare kids were itching to read it.  The cover and illustrations are very well done and really grab the kids’ attention. Plus my daughter thought Pipsie was “so cool” because she had galoshes and a magnifying glass too!

The story itself is engaging and entertaining. Pipsie and her turtle sidekick, Alfred, are trying to solve the mystery of why their caterpillar friend, Frannie, suddenly disappeared after two weeks of non-stop fun together.  They collect clues and get help from a bug expert at the zoo.

The girls thought Pipsie was “smart” and “cute” but they really loved that “silly Alfred” riding on his scooter.

My preschoolers loved finding the clues and figuring out the mystery with Pipsie.  They were able to follow along and I was impressed with how much they learned about the butterfly life cycle from the book. The facts are presented in an easy way that even my preschool-aged children could understand.

The story flows nicely and I really enjoyed the artwork! We will definitely be looking forward to the next Pipsie, Nature Detective book that comes out in 2016!

Overall I’d highly recommend this book! It’s a great way to teach children about butterflies and caterpillars.  It would be a perfect book for a butterfly preschool/kindergarten unit or for a child that just loves exploring and nature!

Grab your copy today! It’s available in Hardcover or for your Kindle!

Find out more about Pipsie and butterflies (plus pick up the FREE activity kit) over at Pipsie’s Website!  There are mazes, fun facts, and educational activities for kids that your children will love!

About the Author

Rick DeDonato started writing and drawing storybooks for his two kids, Alexis and Matt, when they were little. They’re grown now, but Rick is still creating stories! When he’s not dreaming up adventures for Pipsie, he’s an award-winning creative director in advertising. Born in New Jersey, he now lives in Wilmington, Delaware, with Nancy McAleer; their two dogs, Tugger and Nacho; and their turtle, Alfred E. Turtle!

About the Illustrator

Tracy Bishop won an art contest in kindergarten, and she’s been creating art ever since. A graduate of San Jose State University, she is also the illustrator of Not the Quitting Kind by Sarra  J. Roth. She lives in San Jose, California, where she is inspired on a daily basis by her son,  husband, and a hairy dog named Harry.

Are you ready to WIN A FREE COPY of this brilliant new children’s book? Enter below:  {US Residents, 18+ years} Giveaway over. Congrats to RENEE for winning a free copy!