One Long Line: Marching Caterpillars and the Scientists Who Followed Them

A fresh and fascinating look at caterpillars ushers kids into the process of scientific discovery in this first book in the Discovery Chronicles by a biologist and award-winning children’s author.

This is a story about remarkable creatures, inquisitive people and fascinating conversations. The creatures? Pine processionary caterpillars with mysterious group habits. The people? Jean Henri Fabre and, many years later, Terrence Fitzgerald – scientists with big questions about the behaviour of these caterpillars. And the conversations? The conversations span lifetimes, as one researcher continues a dialogue started by the other.

In this playful, candid, and accessible book for young readers, biologist Loree Griffin Burns captures the unique leader-follower behaviour of pine processionary caterpillars through a glimpse into the “ask, test, repeat” nature of the scientific process – and shows how that process creates one long line of questioning and learning. Back matter includes more details about the two scientists as well as a glossary, bibliography, source notes, and suggestions for further reading.