Kids books | Reading | Storytime | Butterfly Books | Early Learning
There’s nothing quite like story time with a good old-fashioned hard cover book. For many of us, story time built many memorable moments with family, friends and teachers. You know the ones … classic books like the “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” are always fondly talked about and clear winners with the little ones.
Well, here’s some more good news. We’ve come up with three new kids books we know your family will adore for generations to come. Oh, and please forgive our bias … they’re all about butterflies of course!
“Lyssie the Butterfly” written and illustrated by Eva-Marie Welsh (2015). Quality Press, Western Australia. ISBN 978-0-9873211-3-8
Price $20-25
Ages 3+ read-aloud / self-read 5-10+
This book is like a huge smile on a warm sunny day. Eva-Marie, a North Queensland local, beautifully illustrates the butterfly lifecycle using our world-famous blue butterfly, the Ulysses. Each page leads the reader through a visually pleasing sea of colour depicting the adventure of Lyssie the Ulysses and other tropical animals unique to our region including the cassowary. You’ll also be pleased to learn the hardcopy book is printed on paper made from sustainable forests.
“The Making of a Monarch” photographed and written by Linda Shmith. (2016, 2nd edn.) www.lindashmith.com.au ISBN 978-0-646-59441-5
Price $$25-30
Ages 4+ read-aloud / self-read 6-10+
While this book also focuses on the butterfly lifecycle it does so in a little more depth for a science focused learning experience. The anatomy and physiology of the four stages in the butterfly lifecycle is captured using high-resolution photographs and easy-to-read text. The images are quite impressive … you would usually only see some of these details (in the egg, caterpillar, chrysalis and butterfly) using a microscope! Another eco-friendly purchase, with approximately ‘876kg of CO2 saved on the project’.
“The Making of Butterflies” written by Zora Neale Hurston, adapted by Ibram X. Kendi, illustrated by Kah Yangni (2023) HarperCollins Publishers, New York. ISBN 978-0-06-311158-5
Price $$$30-35
Ages 5+ read-aloud / self-read 6-10+
‘The Making of Butterflies’ is a feel-good folktale with quite a history behind it! The original story dates back to 1927 and was told between people who worked in the timber industry. Now published as a modern children’s book, the story of how butterflies came to be and why they came to be called butterflies, is written in Ebonics – African American English. It’s a fun read and full of brightly coloured artwork.
So, there you have it. Our top three books about butterflies for kids! Whether you’re looking for some inspiration for gifts or planning a special read-aloud story time experience, we hope you enjoy these books as much as we do.
Happy reading!
