The butterfly’s life cycle will inspire young readers to connect with the world around them in this gorgeously illustrated narrative nonfiction picture book. A perfect nature book for readers of Honeybee and A Seed Is Sleepy.
A kaleidoscope is a tube with mirrors and pieces of colored material that reflect beautiful moving patterns. Kaleidoscope is also the collective noun used to describe a group of butterflies. This narrative nonfiction picture book uses both definitions to highlight the cyclical nature of caring for the environment.
In a richly layered text, acclaimed author Miranda Paul explores each stage of a butterfly’s life cycle, while providing lessons in care and responsibility and encouraging hope for the future of our planet. Husband-and-wife team Hari and Deepti use intricate paper sculptures and paint to bring the butterflies to life in stunning, three-dimensional artwork.
- Pairs well with science curricular units on the life cycle of butterflies.
- Introduces ways for children to care for the environment.
- Encourages children to spend time outdoors, observing nature.
- Informative backmatter includes an activity to help the butterflies in your own yard or garden and a behind-the-scenes look at how the distinctive artwork was created.
- Use in both art and science classrooms!---from the publisher
40 pages 978-0063144101 Ages 5-8
Keywords: butterflies, life cycles, hope, responsibility, environmental stewardship, nature, outdoors, science, Science Curriculum, 5 year old, 6 year old, 7 year old, 8 year old
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There is such beauty in the nature around us and this book invites us to take a minute or two to notice a butterfly in our backyard and to take another minute to wonder just exactly how this beautiful creature becomes.
This story is an interesting combination of a page spreads that read at the level of a 3 or 4 year old, listener. The listener is invited to "see these eggs beneath these leaves? With a turn of the page those eggs become the beginning of wonder - eggs created with nature's wild imagination and then if we turn the kaleidoscope once more we see a beautiful array of eggs, larvae, caterpillars. It's an eye-popping energy that feels like it's spreading and coming to us right off the page.
Here the story seems to shift from the simplicity of the early pages - but the voice that comes along with the gorgeous bits of nature is the voice of someone explaining gently and warmly just how this whole butterfly egg thing works. It's a great match.
We go munching and crunching along through the stages we all know. But do you know what makes a caterpillar stop eating and head off to hang itself upside down? Do the butterflies that come out of the chrysalis remember being a caterpillar?
Oh yeah... this book has some gorgeous illustrations, some fascinating thoughts, and enough information to transform the moment of seeing a butterfly in the wild of their own yard into a moment of respect and admiration.
This is a magical book. This is the magic of being a child and discovering the natural world they are born to.
Recommended by: Barb Langridge, abookandahug.com
