The purple puffy coat - Maribeth Boelts

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.