Butterflies, Black Cats, And More!

In this informative picture book, two friends take a class field trip to a butterfly sanctuary, where they learn all about the life cycle of the painted lady butterfly. Afterward, the girls are inspired to make a community garden that will attract the butterflies and help them thrive. It’s a great picture book to learn more about butterflies and to inspire kids to contribute to their communities.

This gorgeously illustrated nonfiction identifies butterflies from around the world. It’s a large, fascinating book describing commonly known butterflies and lesser-known beauties. It includes a world map, illustrations of a butterfly’s life cycle, and more. My daughter and I use it as a reference book whenever we spot a new kind of butterfly in our nearby community garden.

This is a delightful picture book about friendship and the differences between a moth and a butterfly. Two caterpillars become best friends, but when they both undergo their transformations, their differences pull them apart. Moth prefers the night, while butterfly prefers the day. Will they find a way to continue their friendship? With its vibrant illustrations and adorable friendly main character, this book is a great way to introduce compare/contrast concepts as well as insect facts to young readers.

My daughter just started reading chapter books this year, and The Critter Club is one of her favorite early chapter book series. In the latest book in the series, Marion volunteers to be part of a butterfly release at the Santa Vista Arboretum. But none of her friends can volunteer with her, and her little sister refuses to because she’s scared of bugs. Marion’s determined to help her sister overcome her fears, but in the meantime, Marion needs to overcome her own anxiety over trying to make everything perfect.