Zoey and Sassafras 4 – Caterflies and Ice

Caterflies and Ice by Asia Citro is a snowy magical science story for 6 year olds about two shivering visitors who look exactly like catnip.

What happens

A surprise spring snow has fallen and Zoey thinks it's completely awesome. Her cat Sassafras does not. He hates wet paws, so she puts on her Thinking Goggles and decides to make him tiny snowshoes.

Then the magic doorbell rings. This is the fourth Zoey and Sassafras book, and there's nothing outside the barn this time but a patch of snow with pink dots on it. Until the snow hisses at her!

It's two caterflies. Picture miniature green cats with six legs and big white butterfly wings (and they're a bit put out at being asked if they're butterflies). They're freezing, and they purr like mad in front of a heater.

Their problem is a big one. They hid their eggs behind a little waterfall in a cave to keep them safe. Then the cold came, the waterfall froze solid, and now the eggs are stuck behind the ice.

Dad will only let Zoey out for twenty minutes. So she grabs a thermos of hot water and the salt, and carries Sassafras in her backpack as a portable cat heater. Who knew a whole cave of caterflies would think a real live cat was the best thing ever? Dozens of them snuggle into his fur until only his face is peeking out.

This is the book where Zoey gets something wrong. Her quick fix comes with a cost she didn't think about. She works it out at the kitchen counter, over a slice of potato that's gone rubbery in very salty water, and she's upset.

Her mum is kind and practical (we all make mistakes, she tells her). That's a lovely thing for a young reader to see. Getting it wrong, owning up and then working out what to do next is what the second half is all about.

The funny bits are mostly Sassafras. He squashes his face against the window while Zoey plays in the snow. And when the snowshoes finally go on, he prances round the kitchen with his tail in the air until Dad laughs so hard he cries.

It's an American book, so water freezes at 32 degrees rather than 0. The glossary at the back gives both, which helps if your reader already knows their temperatures.

What to read next

If they love a race to save something before the eggs hatch, Bips and Roses has another one. This time it's the forest roses that need help, because baby hippogriffs can't fly without them.