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

A fresh and fascinating look at caterpillars gives new meaning to the words “line leader”—and 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 behavior 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 behavior 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.

Loree Griffin Burns is a biologist and the author of many nonfiction books for children, including Honeybee Rescue: A Backyard Drama, illustrated by Ellen Harasimowicz, and Life on Surtsey: Iceland’s Upstart Island. Her books have won many accolades, including American Library Association Notable designations, a Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor, an International Reading Association Children’s Book Award, a Green Earth Book Award, and two AAAS/Subaru Prizes for Excellence in Science Books. She lives in central New England, where she writes, teaches, and studies her insect neighbors.

Jamie Green is the illustrator of multiple books for young readers, including Mushroom Rain by Laura K. Zimmerman, and was named the Society of Illustrators Zankel Scholar in 2019. Their work explores the natural world, along with themes of human connection, travel, history, and movement. Jamie Green lives in Greenville, South Carolina, and can often be found either in the corner of a café or on trails in the Blue Ridge Mountains.