The Courageous Caterpillar
A free digital storybook series to help children build confidence, resilience, and emotional strength.
Designed for children in pre-school and Key Stage 1
The Courageous Caterpillar
A free digital storybook series to help children build confidence, resilience, and emotional strength.
Designed for children in pre-school and Key Stage 1
Big feelings can be hard for little people. Help your child explore big topics easily through the eyes of The Courageous Caterpillar and his friends.
As a children’s hospice, we know how hard it can be to talk to children about the big lessons in life. We created The Courageous Caterpillar to share our hospice team’s expertise in supporting children’s well-being and help other children and families, who we don’t support at the hospice, have fun and learn more about the world together.
How does it work?
- 4 free digital storybooks will wiggle into your inbox (one book a week).
- Each original story is designed to help your little one learn, discover, ask questions and have fun!
- Every story will cover a different topic – from courage to community.
- Each book includes a fun activity for your child linked to the story.
About Helen & Douglas House
We are the world’s first children’s hospice. We have provided life-changing, pioneering hospice care in our community since 1982.
When a child is diagnosed with a life-limiting or terminal condition, we help make this difficult time just a little easier for children and their families.
In a comforting cocoon of care, we provide 24-hour medical, emotional and practical support, helping families create happy memories in the last years, weeks, or days they have left together.
FAQs
How does the product help a child develop their emotional resilience?
We recognise the importance of emotional resilience in children—helping them understand big feelings, worries, and new experiences. Each week for four weeks, you’ll receive a digital storybook introducing an age-appropriate topic that encourages gentle conversation and builds confidence through simple, relatable stories.
What research has been done to create the Courageous Caterpillar storybook series?
As a children’s hospice, we have more than 40 years of experience supporting families through life’s most difficult moments. We have created The Courageous Caterpillar to share some of our knowledge to help other families who we don’t support at the hospice. The stories are written to help spark conversations with children in a gentle, age-appropriate way.
What topics do the Courageous Caterpillar stories cover?
This short mini-series explores courage, asking for help, helping others and community. Each theme is introduced through warm, friendly stories, designed for pre-school and KS1 children.
How do I access the digital storybooks once I’ve signed up?
You will receive an email to the address that you signed up with containing a link to the first storybook as well as some helpful parent information. Links to future storybooks will be sent once a week via email to the same address.
How frequently will I receive emails?
You will receive emails with the digital Courageous Caterpillar e-book and supporting parent material once a week over a 4–week period. After this, we would love to continue to keep in touch with you from time to time and let you know more about our work supporting children and families, as well as ways you may wish to get involved, such as fundraising and family events. You may unsubscribe at any time by contacting [email protected] or 01865 799150.
I haven’t received my first email, what should I do?
If you haven’t received your first email within a few hours of subscribing, please check your spam folder to make sure it hasn’t accidentally been delivered there. Otherwise, please get in touch with us by email at [email protected] or call 01865 799150 during office hours.
What should I do if the link in my emails isn’t working?
If any links within your emails aren’t working, please first retry on a different browser or device. If you’re still not able to access the link, please get in touch with us by email at [email protected] or call 01865 799150 during office hours.
What age are the storybooks suitable for?
The stories are designed for pre-school and key stage 1 aged children, approximately from 3-7 years old, but parents of younger or older children may still find them useful.
Is there a cost for the storybook series?
We are delighted to offer The Courageous Caterpillar digital storybook series for free. If you would like to make a donation to support families we work with through difficult times and conversations, then please visit our donate page.
Can I unsubscribe?
Yes, you can unsubscribe at any time. To opt out of hearing from us, please get in touch at [email protected] or 01865 799150.
I previously paid for The Courageous Caterpillar as a monthly product that came through the post. Why are you now offering this for free??
Thank you for being one of our earlier supporters of The Courageous Caterpillar. The previous version of the product was a paid, postal subscription delivered over a year and including extra resources and activities. That subscription ended in 2022 but we would love to repurpose some of The Courageous Caterpillar content to a wider audience and so have created a more accessible and flexible digital format for families.
Without the costs of print and mailing, we are able to offer new digital mini‑series free of charge and delivered via email over four weeks. While the format has changed, the heart of the series remains the same—gentle, age‑appropriate stories designed to help children explore emotions, courage, asking for help, and supporting others.
If you have any questions about the old subscription, or would like help accessing the new digital series, please get in touch with us at [email protected] or 01865 799150 during office hours.
I have a different question. How can I contact you?
If you have any questions or would like to find out more about Helen & Douglas House and The Courageous Caterpillar, please get in touch.
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 01865 799150