Metamorphosis

Hello. Do you know what it feels like to be a tiny egg on a big green leaf. I do. I help that egg hatch into a wiggly, munching caterpillar. Then, when the caterpillar is full and sleepy, I wrap it in a cozy blanket called a chrysalis. It’s my special secret. After a little nap, something amazing happens… a butterfly pops out. I am the magic that makes it happen. My name is Metamorphosis. It’s a big word for a super-cool change.

For a very, very long time, people have seen me work my magic and wondered how I do it. Way back in ancient Egypt, more than 5,000 years ago, people saw shiny scarab beetles crawl out of the ground. They thought it was a special kind of rebirth. They loved watching the beetles come out of the sand, all new and bright. Later, a wise man in ancient Greece named Aristotle, who lived over 2,000 years ago, watched caterpillars very closely. He was so curious. He saw them stop wiggling and turn into a little case, and then he saw the beautiful butterfly come out. He wrote it all down in a book so everyone could learn about the amazing changes I make. He wanted to share the secret with the world.

Guess what. I don’t just help caterpillars and tadpoles. I am with you, too. Remember when you were a tiny baby. Now you can run, jump, and talk. That’s a kind of metamorphosis. Every time you learn something new, like how to read a book or ride a scooter, you are changing and growing. I am the wonderful power of change, and I help every living thing become something new and beautiful. I am always with you as you grow. What amazing thing will you become next?