This document provides a summary of the children's book "Hope for the Flowers" by Trina Paulus. The story follows a caterpillar named Stripe who feels there must be more to life than just eating leaves. He goes on an adventure and meets another caterpillar named Yellow. They experience love and transformation together as they each eventually spin cocoons and emerge as butterflies. The author's goal was to provide hope and inspiration through the metaphor of the caterpillar's journey. Overall the analysis praises the heartwarming message of the story but notes the cover could be more appealing.

1. POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
Gen. Santos Ave., Upper Bicutan, Taguig City
Name: CAÑAS, KIMBERLY D. Course & Section: BSEDE II-I Grade:
A. About the Book
I. Title: Hope for the Flowers
Author: Trina Paulus
II. Publication: Paulist Press (1972)
III. Summary of the Book (Summary of the Essence of the Plot)
This is about the tale of a caterpillar named Stripe. His adventure began when he
realized that there is more to life than just eating leaves and crawling and crawling. He is so
desperate to find what he’s looking for so he decided to crawl away from where he was born.
After crawling a long way, he found himself in the bottom of a pillar. There are lots of caterpillars
there, struggling to crawl up. Stripe was curious so he started climbing and along the way he
met another caterpillar named Yellow. They talked about life and how did they get there and
what was the reason why they’re there. After a long and meaningful conversation, the two of
them decided to go down and start a new life. They fell in love with each other and they lived
together. They spent their days eating leaves. One day, Stripe’s curiosity and unrest overcome
him and he decided to get to the top of the pillar. Stripe left yellow and went to the pillar. Stripe
made the journey alone and when he arrived on the top of the pillar, he was disappointed to find
nothing but a view of other caterpillars struggling to reach the top of their respective caterpillar
pillars. Yellow, on the other hand, met someone hanging on a branch of a tree, they talked
about the life of a caterpillar and that someone, who’s also a caterpillar was turning itself into a
cocoon. That caterpillar made Yellow realize the real meaning of being a caterpillar, soon, she
herself spins a cocoon. Then, when Yellow turned into a beautiful butterfly, he went to the pillar
where Stripe was, she came to rescue Stripe from the top to the bottom of the pillar. Yellow
accompanied him to where she hung herself inside a cocoon. Stripe eventually realizes what he
needs to do. Stripe makes a cocoon of his own. Yellow waits for him. Stripe emerges
transformed into a butterfly, and they fly off together.
B. Pertinent Details about the Book
I. Is the book a part of a series? No
II. Does the book have an interesting relationship to the author’s life or career?
Yes, because the story has something to do about her late father, thus the book
was dedicated to her father.

2. C. About the Story
I. What was the story all about?
It is about a caterpillar wanting more of his life where when we relate it to human, it is
about exploring the world and learning new things. The more experiences we have, the
more we will be able to learn and know ourselves better.
II. Who are the main characters in the story? What did they do in the story?
The main characters are Stripe and Yellow. They are caterpillars and they met each
other on the pillar of caterpillar. They help each other know themselves better.
III. Did the main character/s run into any problem? Any adventure?
The adventure began when Stripe started to be curious about the real meaning of life
and his search for the essence of being a caterpillar.
D. Other Interesting Details about the Book
i. Historical Fiction
ii. Science Fiction
iii. Fantasy The talking caterpillars.
iv. Some other genre There’s a musical made from the Hope for the Flowers.
E. Author’s Goal
I. Why did the author write the book?
“It all started many years ago while sharing comfort with a friend who just experienced
the death of someone close. What does one say? How can we dare imagine that life can go
on - we have no proof? The amazing transformation of a caterpillar, a lowly worm, into a
glorious flying creature is also hard to believe. But because we have actually seen a
butterfly we can hope for other transformations invisible to the eye.
In face of loss beyond words I would draw a card with a caterpillar, a cocoon and a
butterfly illustrating a favorite text, "Life is changed, not taken away."The next push came
with the sixties. The air was full of the call for revolution, many were for tearing down the
whole old order hoping for some sort of magical Phoenix to emerge from the ashes. I
wanted change. I wanted a more just and beautiful world too, but I could not believe that
destroying all that came before would produce a Phoenix or a butterfly.” – Trina Paulus
II. Is the title parallel to what the book means?
After hearing the title of the said book, I had the idea that the story is about
talking flowers, about destruction of a garden or that something went wrong in the forest and
the flowers and the trees were dying. I also thought that the book was a children’s book
when I saw its cover. After reading the story, I realized that Hope for the Flowers can have a
double meaning. The first meaning is literal, and that is because if more caterpillars will turn
themselves into a butterfly, flowers will bloom, they will be healthy, they will have hope.
Another meaning for me is the phrase as a metaphor. Flowers are the ones who will benefit

3. from the works of the butterflies. For example, students are the flowers, and teachers are
the butterflies.
III. What devices did the author use to achieve his or her goal/s?
Like many other authors, Paulus used a rhetorical device or resource of
language. It is a technique that an author or speaker uses to convey to the listener or
reader a meaning with the goal of persuading him or her towards considering a topic
from a different perspective.
F. Characterization in the Book
I. Distinct ways the author establishes for characterization, and for each
instance noted. Support your observation with a reference (not a quotation)
from the book.
The author of the book used direct or explicit characterization wherein the author
literally tells the audience what the characters are like. This may be done via the narrator,
another character or by the character him- or herself.
II. Realize that what a character is like is not the same as how the author
establishes the character.
G. Reader’s Personal Experiences
i. Could you relate to any of the characters in the story? In what way?
I can perfectly relate to one of the characters, Stripe, when he felt that there is
something more to discover about life and the time he had troubles about getting
back to the pillar once more.
ii. Have you ever done some of the things or felt some of the same things that the
characters did?
I felt the same thing Stripe felt when he decided to go to the pillar once again.
You see, I’m the type of person who wants what I want, and to attain such
satisfaction, there has to be the feeling of contentment and happiness.
H. Reader’s Opinion
i. Did you like the book? Why? Why not?
Yes, simply because it made me realize things beyond my wildest dreams. It
inspires me a lot too and it also served as a motivation for me to never give up on
things easily and to explore life more.
ii. What is your favourite part of the book?
My favourite part of the book is when Yellow met the caterpillar in the cocoon and
they talked about life, that there is more to it than just being a caterpillar, the
statements of both parties are simple yet meaningful for me.

4. iii. If you could change any part of the book, what would it be? If I could change
any part of the book, I would still do nothing about the story but I think I’ll get rid of
the bright yellow cover, because it hurts my eyes. I will also change the designs and
make the illustrations clearer, eye-catching and cute.
iv. Would you recommend the book for other people to read? Definitely yes
because I believe that this book will not just help people have a strategy to kill time,
or to help widen your vocabulary or to see a bright-yellow-covered-book, but this will
also inspire people.
I. Book Analysis
i. List several strengths of the book. 1. Hope for the Flowers is for young and old,
lovers, husbands and wives. It's a book to learn to read with. 2. Hope's theme of life,
moving through seeming death to a new and more beautiful life, has touched the
hearts of millions of people.
ii. List several weaknesses of the book. 1. The cover is funny. 2. Some illustrations
are unclear and it doesn’t look so child/reader-friendly.
iii. Say what sort of person would enjoy the book. I say anybody, anyone would
enjoy reading this book if and only if they will read it and understand what the real
message of the story is and for me, it does not depend on what kind of person are
you.