The Purple Puffy Coat

Beetle gives Stick Insect an attention-grabbing coat for his birthday – but is that what Stick Insect really wants? A delightful story about friends learning to understand each other.

It’s almost Stick Insect’s birthday, and his fashionable friend Beetle can’t wait to give him his present – a purple puffy coat! The coat draws a lot of attention and makes Stick Insect really stick out in the crowd. Beetle thinks that’s terrific! He takes Stick Insect all over town, happily boasting and bragging (while Stick Insect waits behind a tree, in a pile of leaves, or under a bench). Oh, dear – maybe Stick Insect isn’t as happy about the purple puffy coat as Beetle is! What can Beetle do to make Stick Insect feel more comfortable? Charming illustrations bring to life both characters’ endearing struggles in this warm and humorous story about friendship and understanding each other.

About the Author

Maribeth Boelts is the author of many books for young readers, including Those Shoes and A Bike Like Sergio's, both illustrated by Noah Z. Jones; Happy Like Soccer, illustrated by Lauren Castillo; and Kaia and the Bees, illustrated by Angela Dominguez. Maribeth Boelts lives in Iowa, USA.

About the Illustrator

Daniel Duncan is the author-illustrator of the picture book South and the illustrator of The Girl Who Could Fix Anything: Beatrice Shilling, World War II Engineer, written by Maribeth Boelts, Mr. Posey's New Glasses, written by Ted Kooser, among other books for children. Daniel Duncan lives in Buckinghamshire.