by Rosemary Mosco
illustrated by Jacob Souva
Penguin Random House / Tundra Books, 2021
ISBN 9780735265929
$21.99, 32 pp, ages 4 – 10
penguinrandomhouse.ca
Speaking directly to readers, the author challenges us to read further only if we want to be grossed out by the real story of butterflies. Using humorous illustrations with butterflies and caterpillars looking very human, this engaging book will delight children who will enjoy disgusting, peculiar, and surprising facts about butterflies. They are shape-shifters, noisy, stinky, carnivorous, and sneaky! Readers will become acquainted with the cycle of butterfly development, become familiar with a number of species, and see how butterflies are different and similar to ourselves. They will learn that, like humans, butterflies are beautiful and complex.
Classroom Connections: Children will delight in this as a read-aloud book at any age, and being able to recall the things they have learned, either orally or on paper, will be a starting point for classroom discussions focussing on science. Having students defend a statement with facts is a good exercise for helping them prepare for scientific thought. For example, a statement might be Butterflies are noisy. Giving an example of a butterfly that is noisy and how that noise is made would defend that statement. Another way this book could be used in the classroom is as an example of how the strategy of speaking directly to the reader is a useful writing strategy. Teachers could encourage students to use this strategy in their own creative writing.
Review by Betty Schultze.
This review is featured in Canadian Teacher Magazine’s Winter 2024 issue.