Sometimes leading by example or “not asking of others acting I would not do myself” is not the best idea. And while there is something to be said for childhood zeal...

Cross has created a girl who, as she grows up, will never need caffeine or extra encouragement. Carly is an impassioned activist who, to her credit, has enough awareness to know when things may have gotten out of hand.

Let her be an example to us all of both what not to do AND what to do when we’ve done that.

A hero is born!

We've all had that moment. That genuine, well-intentioned, but huge mistake that we only realize the ramifications of after the fact. Thankfully, Cross's victim here should be fine, and we all get to humorously learn the lesson of not using visual aids when it comes to teaching insects how to eat. Lovely little short.

Enthusiastic people are terrific ... until they become a threat against themselves.

"In Conversation with Caterpillars" is a nice, comic reminder by Monica Cross that we should let Nature do its own thing on its own timetable. It knows what it's doing.