When Ezra hears a blue tune one day and goes to investigate, she discovers a cranky caterpillar living in her piano. Stuck in the same place for years, the caterpillar doesn't seem capable of playing anything but mournful music. Ezra tries everything she can think of, from fresh air to baked goodies, to cheer him up, all to no avail. Then she thinks to invite some other musical friends over, and the results are transformative, in more ways than one...

Published by Thames & Hudson, a press specializing in art books, The Cranky Caterpillar is the debut picture-book from British sculptor Richard Graham. I enjoyed both story and artwork, being reminded a bit, at the conclusion, of such classic works as Hope for the Flowers, which I grew up reading, and which also addressed issues of transformation. Of course, Trina Paulus' book looked at conformity vs. transformation, rather than emotional stagnation vs. transformation, but the echoes were there, at least in my reading. The visuals here were very interesting. I particularly liked how the grayer color scheme gave way to a burst of color, in the scene in which the musicians play their cherry music, and the caterpillar is changed. All in all, a sweet little book, and an auspicious debut for Mr. Graham. I would definitely pick up another book by him, if he created it. ( )