Book Review of Arlo Needs Your Help
The Children’s Book Review
Arlo Needs Your Help
Written by Cortney Cino
Illustrated by Olga Sall
Ages: 4-8 | 36 Pages
Publisher: Whimspire Books (2026) | ISBN: 979-8-9907422-5-3
What to Expect: Caterpillars, metamorphosis, milkweeds, monarch butterflies, conservation, interactive adventures, science & nature.
Arlo Needs Your Help is an interactive read-aloud story in which readers help Arlo the caterpillar escape a “Caterpillar Palace” to begin his metamorphosis into a monarch butterfly.
Arlo the caterpillar is accidentally trapped in a “Caterpillar Palace” by some well-meaning kids. Unfortunately, being stuck means Arlo might miss the most important transformation of his life unless readers can help him escape and find the milkweed leaves he must eat to complete his life cycle. Through interaction, readers will not only make a new friend but also learn about the magical life cycle of monarch butterflies and the importance of helping endangered species.
Engaging and well-suited for an interactive read-aloud experience, Cortney Cino’s story directly addresses the reader, inviting them to participate in freeing Arlo by finding a blue button, pushing it, and gently shaking the container. An additional character named Ava the aphid, who helps the reader count the days of the chrysalis stage and helps scare off predators, adds a clever and fun element to the narrative. The back matter, titled “Now That We’re Friends, Did You Know,” provides informative facts about monarch butterflies and conservation efforts. Olga Sall’s illustrations are vibrant and expressive, effectively bringing the story to life through richly layered backgrounds and textures that clearly depict the monarch butterfly’s life cycle.
Right from the appealing book cover, this delightful and educational book is perfect for young readers (K-2) who enjoy interactive stories and learning about nature, especially those interested in caterpillars, butterflies, and conservation.
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About the Author
Cortney Cino is the author of The Lights That Stay, Sincerely, Antonia, Finally Home, and the Piper’s Adventures series. With a background in marketing, she now writes and publishes children’s books full-time. Her experiences living in Washington, DC; Boston, MA; and Morehead City, NC, where her family was stationed with the military, have all influenced her writing. Cortney currently lives with her husband and three daughters in Northern California.
For more information, visit www.whimspirebooks.com.
About the Illustrator
Olga Sall is an illustrator based in Spain with over 30 children’ s books to her name. Known for her intricately detailed work, Olga brings stories to life through richly layered backgrounds, vibrant colors, and expressive textures. Olga Sall is an illustrator based in Spain with over 30 children’ s books to her name. Known for her intricately detailed work, Olga brings stories to life through richly layered backgrounds, vibrant colors, and expressive textures.
