How does a caterpillar become a butterfly?

1. 1

   Lue says

   A caterpillar hatches from a tiny egg and eats and eats. It grows so fast that it wriggles out of its old skin again and again. When it's big enough, it hangs upside down and sheds its skin one last time. Underneath is a smooth case called a chrysalis. A week or two later, out comes a butterfly!

   For ages 4–7
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   Checked against Monarch life cycle (Monarch Joint Venture)

2. 2

   Why does it come out looking so different?

   Inside the chrysalis, the caterpillar breaks most of its body down into a kind of soup. But little groups of cells stay safe, and each group is ready to build one part, like eyes, legs or wings. They use the soup to grow. Bit by bit, they build a brand-new butterfly.

   For ages 6–9
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   Checked against How does a caterpillar turn into a butterfly? (Scientific American)

In Lil' Phil, reaching the bottom of this wonder earns a sticker for Lue's collection.

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