Gotta Go! Gotta Go!: A Picture Book

by Sam Swope, Sue Riddle (Illustrations)

An incredible journey

"I don't know much, but I know what I know. I gotta go! I gotta go! I gotta go to Mexico!" The creepy-crawly bug doesn't know why she does what she does. She only knows she has to do it. But making the journey seems impossible for the slow-moving critter, who has no idea what or where Mexico is. Then an everyday miracle occurs, bringing a transformation that will help her fulfill her destiny. Each autumn, millions of Monarch butterflies migrate from the central and eastern United States and Canada to colonies in the mountains of Mexico, where they mate before flying north in the spring to lay their eggs. In simple, jaunty text and pictures, Sam Swope and Sue Riddle celebrate the amazing story of one of these intrepid bugs.

Genres: Picture Books, Science, Animals, Childrens, Storytime, Nonfiction, Nature

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read picture books that better describe the monarch migration. For example, this would have you think it is the same monarch that migrates to Mexico, winters, then returns. In reality, no individual butterfly completes the entire round trip. However, the story does have an appealing refrain and drives home the instinctive nature of migration as the little caterpillar continually feels, "Gotta go! Gotta go! Gotta go, to Mexico!"

I recommend instead, or at least in addition to, these books: Winged Wonders: Solving the Monarch Migration Mystery and Señorita Mariposa

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kids love stories about butterflies and this one created so many good questions about them!

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book celebrates the cycle of life of the Monarch caterpillar. With a repetitive narrative and colorful illustrations, the story is sure to engage young readers.

[Shari · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has been a family favorite over the years! We've all used the I gotta go, I gotta go, I gotta go to Mexico many times. Cute and sweet story illustrating a Monarchs life from egg to hungry caterpillar, to chrysalis to migrating butterfly and back.

[Linden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gotta Go! Gotta Go! recounts the adventures of a creepy-crawly bug who eats, grows and takes the metamorphic sleep to butterflyhood, but always has the clear knowledge that she's "Gotta go! Gotta go! Gotta go to Mexico!" The infectious rhythm of that refrain catches the ear of kindergarteners and before long, they are leaning from side to side, chanting it along with the text.

GG!GG! follows the grown-up bug over rivers and streams, over cities and towns, across deserts and through dangers until at last she arrives. There she sleeps until spring when she dances with a boy butterfly and then heads back home where she lays her eggs. And when that egg hatches, "it is the reason for everything."

More thoughts:
The basis for this charmingly-told story are amazing facts. Since butterflies cannot survive the cold weather in northern U.S. and Canada, they migrate to a warmer climate in order to hibernate through the winter. They are the only insect able to make a journey of 2,500 miles. In spring, they mate and return north to lay their eggs.

Mexico is one of their two destinations. Monarchs from east of the Rocky Mountains travel to the fir trees of Mexico. Those west of the Rockies travel to Pacific Grove in southern California.

While the story only briefly outlines this adventure, it does catch the imagination of children through the magic of knowing they, themselves, are bound for somewhere as well.

The short version of the facts, for kids:
http://www.monarchbutterflyusa.com/Cy...

The longer version outlines the bigger story and the almost impossible-to-believe idea that those who find their way south to Mexico or California are the great-great-grandchildren of the insects that flew north to lay the eggs:
http://www.monarchwatch.org/tagmig/in...

[Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cheerful and bright, simply illustrated, clearly describing the instinctive, generational, perfectly cyclical migration of monarchs.

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t like the style of writing. That was the biggest problem I had with the book, along with the word choice. It was so repetitive and kept saying the same things over and over which got really old, fast.

Over and over “I gotta go! I gotta go! I gotta go to Mexico!”

It doesn’t send a good message to call them creepy-crawlies. It’s not caterpillar-positive to say they’re creepy. I at least thought he’d stop using that once the caterpillar morphed into a butterfly, but the butterflies were called creepy-crawlies too.

I didn’t like how things were worded. “But if Mexico is where I’m going, and it is, then Mexico will be wherever I get.” “But if Mexico is where I’m going, and it is, then however I go, I will get there.” “I am what I am and I know what I know, and make it or not, I gotta go! I gotta go! I gotta go to Mexico!”

It didn’t explain the transformation at all and brushed right over the actual science behind it. She was eating and crawling and “ate so much she crawled right out of her skin.” It showed her skin lying there but she was still the same. What happened?? No explanation! That’s going to be startling for kids and a cause for confusion.

She got tired and made herself a bed and tucked herself in tight. It showed her in the chrysalis, which was not named as such, and she slept for days and days. Her sleep was long and hard and very strange. How was it hard and strange?? No explanation! It’s a mystery!

She woke up and was a new creepy-crawly bug. No mention of how she got out of the chrysalis, or even a mention that she did get out! The illustration was the only thing that indicated her escape.

It didn’t make sense to me that the wings were described as splendid, but she was still a creepy-crawly.

Her journey to Mexico was long and full of dangers. No explanation is how long or just what dangers are faced.

Millions of butterflies were covering the trees and they slept all winter. In spring they wake up and pair off and “dance.” It didn’t even say mate! They fly back to where they’re from to lay eggs, and the cycle begins again. Just miraculously had eggs from dancing with another butterfly! Didn’t even specify males and females were together.

It just lacked the terminology for the life cycle of a butterfly and was less informative. I did like how it captured the urgency to get to this place they didn’t know anything about but knew they had to go to, and the illustrations were cute. Just wish it had better writing and things had been worded differently, and to have more details.

[Kalynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was among the books I gathered for our first grade PBL project about the monarch butterfly and what we can do to keep it from the extinct list. It would often go overlooked by me, and by students, compared to the books in the pile, it was quite small. It is probably just 6 x 7, but the bright yellow cover and cute title helped it to surface, and I am so glad it did. It tells the "gotta go to Mexico" tale of a new caterpillar full of determination. Engaging in conversations with other animals throughout the journey, the instinctive destination of Mexico went from fuel to contentment when the arrival day came. It a light way it introduces children to this unique butterfly and its life cycle. A great read aloud at any point of a butterfly or monarch unit, but especially at the beginning to gain student background knowledge, misconceptions, and build interest.

[Ashleigh Kapetanakis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This little book is about the story of a bug that’s whole focus on going to Mexico. She doesn’t know why or how she is going to get there but she is determined to get to her destination. Other bugs question her on her journey and she knows that it might be a possibility that she might not make it but she displays true perseverance. The illustrations are simple, cute and not much detail, which isn’t always a bad thing. The set up of this book would fit perfectly for a guided reading lesson along with an extension lesson on butterflies. This would great with a butterfly unit, since it discuss the life cycle, vocabulary words and the migration patter of going to Mexico. I will be using this in my own classroom for guided reading.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book I came across about a creepy crawly bug that is trying to get to it's destination that is miles and miles away. The creepy crawly bug runs into a few others that underestimate it's goal to get to it's destination. Along the way,the creepy crawly bug goes through some changes before becoming a beautiful butterfly making it easier to get to it's destination. This book tells the life cycle of butterfly in such a fun and engaging way as it repeats throughout the story, "I gotta go, I gotta go, I gotta go to Mexico!"

[Ad Astra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely adorable. Loved every minute of this book which is dedicated to the monarch caterpillar's journey. Will hopefully be picking this up again when Gendis (my daughter) is older and can understand this better. One of my favorite memories from elementary school was learning about metamorphosis. We had our own set of caterpillars, pupa/chrysalis, and finally butterflies that we watched and released as a class. This book brought back a lot of those cherished memories.

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I read a book that is classified as a children's book I expect it to be more illustration-heavy than text-heavy. Physically speaking, this picture book is smaller in size than most. And there are way more words than there are pictures. I do believe that a child would lose interest in this book easily.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple language explains the monarch butterfly's journey from caterpillar to butterfly joining the other butterflies in Mexico for the annual migration.

[Bebe Feimster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute rendition of the Monarch butterfly's lifecycle and amazing migration

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

By the end, you and your kids will be chanting, "I gotta go, I gotta go, I gotta go to Mexico!"

[Kelly Chester · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great cute book

[Aarvik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice read.

[Nolan Brendel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it because there was this little caterpillar that was going to Mexico.

[Skyla Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was super cute and had a great message and story line. It was easy to read the text bubbles because it included "he said" and "she said" in the book.

[Mary Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must have for teaching about the butterfly cycle!

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

I expected actual artwork, not blank white pages with just a caterpillar or butterfly and plant on it. That was disappointing and the book had a very simple feel. It made it look sparse. It would have brought it to life with full-page artwork.

‘Her journey was long and hard and full of dangers.’
I wish it said what kind of dangers. Predators? Elements? It could have stood to be a little more informational.

I had no idea monarchs fly to Mexico and sleep on trees through the winter and wake up in the spring! That was a surprise to me.

This was ok, not crazy about repetition personally. It would have been much better with more artwork to look at.

[Christian Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Personal reaction:This is a very good "transitional" children's book. I love how determined the caterpillar is to "make it to Mexico." It is a long journey for the little caterpillar but when she finally makes it, you find out that it was all worth while. She traveled so far and long to find a good place to have her babies. Furthermore, I loved the illustrations of different environments, animals, and insects. The vocabulary is a complex because of pronouns such as "creepy crawly bug," and "beautiful meadow," but it provides great exposure for transitional readers.

Purpose/use in the classroom: This book would be great for both read aloud's and independent reads. It would be best suited for 1st or 2nd grade because of it's length, and more challenging vocabulary. After an independent read, you could have students talk about journeys they have had in life to spark good conversations. Furthermore, you could use this book in a science and nature unit as a way to implement literature as an introduction to the unit. After reading the book to the children, you can do an activity on tracking the lives of insects such as caterpillars to put the book into context. Overall, this book would be a great tool to introduce themes of science and nature.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely fell in love with this simple little book. The illustrations are very basic but very nicely done and goes with the words on the page. The little caterpillar knew when she was born that she needed to go to Mexico. She didn't know why or how she was going to get there she just 'knew' she needed to do it. The story is a very basic one that little learners can understand. This book not only teaches the growth of a caterpillar to a butterfly(moth) but how they gather together and then find that 'mate' (although in the book they find a friend and dance-beautifully written) and she goes on her own again back to the place she was born (or a place similar) lays her eggs and then the eggs hatch and the story starts again. So it's a very nice way of teaching Science without the child knowing they are learning about Science. But also it teaches that in your heart if you really feel companionate about something you feel you need to do, do it! Find a way to make it happen even when you don't understand how you can do it, stay with it and just believe! This may have to be a book we buy for our bookshelf to be read over and over again.

[Eyehavenofilter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Small book, but big idea. Explains the HUGE migration of monarch butterfly's to Mexico from the caterpillars point of view. Very sweet little drawings, with soft colours.
The caterpillar "buggy"doesn't know why she has this feeling of" gotta go gotta go" but she sets off on her way to Mexico. She tires out easily, and stops for a snack and a nap. She makes a cocoon, seemed like a good idea at the time. But when she wakes up she has been transformed into a different type of bug. A beautiful Monarch butterfly with amazing orange and black wings that help her to fly south towards Mexico. She meets up with a giant swamping cloud of other Monarchs and dances through the sky with them as they gravitate towards their destination and their destiny. When she lays her eggs the cycle begins again, because when the eggs hatch, what pops out? Guess what?
Children will love the simplicity of this story and the idea of the cycle that this represents, I sure did.

[Maddie Scheer · Rating 3 out of 5]

1. I thought this was a cute book. It was an interesting story, and I found myself being hooked on the "Gotta go to Mexico!" phrase. It was definitely cute and I enjoyed reading throughout the book. It brought back memories of reading books that were cheesy but wonderful at the same time.
2. This would be a great read aloud for students to make a connection with caterpillars and a unit on them and the process to becoming a butterfly. It was definitely a transitional level book (on the lower side) and used dialogue to explain the story. It would be a good book to engage students. It would also be a good independent read, mostly for younger students, on learning more about caterpillars and having a plot that was enriching. The language would stretch the child's imagination. It mostly would be a great read for children who love butterflies and caterpillars and all living creatures!

[Marni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very simple story about a monarch caterpillar that just "knows" he needs to get to Mexico. She doesn't know where that is, how she'll get there, or why, but she knows she needs to.

As soon as I started reading this, it reminded me of that urgent feeling I've had before, that I needed to do something but didn't know all the answers behind it. Didn't know where, how, or why, but knew that for some reason it is important.

Like the monarch, eventually we can also learn "the reason for everything."

Nice book.

[Asho · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am surprised by how highly reviewed this book is, because it didn't impress me at all. Maybe it's better for an older child who can participate with the repetition. As an adult reading it to a still mostly non-verbal baby, I found the repetition incredibly tedious and obnoxious--and I don't always dislike repetition, so it was something about this particular book that just didn't work for me. I thought the illustrations were sort of blah, too.
Oh well, different strokes for different folks! Maybe I'll try it again when my son gets a bit older and can participate in reading it with me.

[Esther · Rating 5 out of 5]

Planning a butterfly migration art lesson for K-5 graders. This book captures the motivated motion of butterfly migration with its repetitive "gotta go" refrain throughout the text. Will pair it with Hurry and the Monarch with its bright watercolor illustrations and short "about migration" afterword, and Waiting for Wings as a reference book for butterfly types and colors.

[Ina Silverness]

Gotta Go! Gotta Go! is about a creepy-crawly bug (caterpillar) who "needs to get to Mexico." She is determined to get to Mexico because she knows that is where she needs to go. She turns into a Monarch Butterfly and flies to Mexico, where she finds thousands of other Monach Butterflies.

The book could be used in Science when teaching students about the metamorphosis from a caterpillar to a butterfly and what happens during the process.

[kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The amazing life of the Monarch Butterfly is revealed in this book. Amazing creatures. The also portrays the common urge we all get once in while...when we know what we know, but we can't explain it. It's just something that is built in us. There are times in our lives that we must live by faith. Otherwise, what a boring life this would be.