Butterfly Wonders: The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Beyond
Joy Fleishhacker, Curriculum Connections -- School Library Journal, 5/5/2009
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Watch Eric Carle in his studio reflecting on the creation of The Very Hungry Caterpillar
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It's a Butterfly's Life (Kelly) |
It’s springtime, and classrooms across the country are playing host to butterfly habitats, with children closely observing—and eagerly awaiting—the miraculous egg-to-insect transformation. Students are completing their own metamorphoses, developing intellectually and socially, mastering skills that seemed beyond their grasp at the start of the school year, and discovering new interests and abilities. Share these colorful books to convey the science of butterfly development and the wondrous potential nestled within all of us.
Share a Story
Published 40 years ago, The Very Hungry Caterpillar (1969) remains a classic on the subject for young readers and listeners. In Philomel’s anniversary edition 
(2009; K-Gr 2), Eric Carle’s familiar images have been reconfigured into an enchanting array of moveable paper sculptures and effects. Now the ravenous young insect (propelled by a turning wheel) wriggles across an earthen-toned page, eats his way through pop-up fruits and sweet treats; and ultimately spreads his foil-infused butterfly wings in a dazzling 3-D flutter. While it does not supplant the original, this "ooh"-inducing pop-up makes a riveting read-aloud launch for science units, author studies, and discussions about transformation.
With spring-hued paper collages and tongue-tingling rhymes, Clare Jarrett introduces the life cycle of Arabella Miller’s Tiny Caterpillar (Candlewick, 2008; K-Gr 2). In this extended version of the nursery rhyme, the smiling youngster finds an insect crawling on her sleeve, feeds and cares for the critter, observes closely as he reposes "inside his house upon its thread," and then rejoices when he eventually emerges as a butterfly: "Bright wings unfolded, stretched to dry,/then up he floated to the sky." The four-stage process from egg to insect is further described in an appended note that includes scientific terminology. Kids will be drawn to the large illustrations and Arabella’s endearing enthusiasm.
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Velma Gratch & the Way Cool Butterfly (Madison) |
Take a Closer Look
"A creature so beautiful should belong in a fairy tale." A superb photo-essay blends science with artistry to reveal the lifestyle and life cycle in Nic Bishop Butterflies and Moths (Scholastic, 2009; Gr 1-5). The crisply focused photographs are both exquisite and informative: a close-up of a caterpillar clearly shows the creature’s prolegs, stinging spines, and spiracles (breathing holes) while also conveying its surprising splendor; a magnified image of a wing demonstrates how each scale is like "a piece of glass in a cathedral window;" a four-page time-lapsed fold-out depicts both the mechanics and majesty of a butterfly taking flight. The author’s lyrical language is sprinkled with imagination-stirring similes and a sense of awe. This breathtaking book makes an involving read-aloud as well as a solid research tool.
Irene Kelly describes an existence "full of twists and turns" as lepidopterans glide through the air, embark on mind-boggling migrations, and make the amazing transformation from egg to adult. Illustrated with crystalline watercolor paintings, It’s a Butterfly’s Life (Holiday House, 2007; K-Gr 4) presents information with clarity and child-grabbing whimsy ("You may not be able to taste a cupcake by standing on it, but a butterfly can!"). While the book reads aloud smoothly, kids will want to get a closer look at the delicate, detailed artwork.
Meet the Monarchs
In Nancy Elizabeth Wallace’s Fly, Monarch! Fly! (Marshall Cavendish, 2008; K-Gr 3), a rabbit family takes a late-summer trip to a butterfly conservation center to learn about monarchs and their life cycle. Peppered with humorous asides from young Minna and Pip, the information is appealingly presented through clear text and colorful cut-paper illustrations. A craft project, recipe, and additional monarch facts are also included. Use this cheery book to prepare for field trips or support classroom studies.
With poetic language and color-infused sponge-textured paintings, Helen Frost and Leonid Gore provide an entrancing look at the extraordinary relationship between Monarch and Milkweed (S & S, 2008; Gr 1-4). The life cycles of this butterfly and its host plant are lucidly described, from spring, when monarchs journey north and milkweeds unfurl their foliage, to the fall, a time of long-distance migrations and seed dispersal. Use this lovely book to help your students place butterflies in a broader ecological context.
Avis Harley’s delightful The Monarch’s Progress (Boyds Mills, 2008; Gr 3-6) flutters across curricular areas with a creative mix of natural history, art, and language studies. Eighteen poems written in a variety of styles shimmer with vivid verbal imagery while conveying scientific truths about these insects. Not only are the monarchs vibrantly depicted in the colored pencil illustrations, but Harley encourages readers to consider these creatures as masterpieces in and of themselves: "The butterfly was there/before any human art was made." In addition to providing depth to insect units, this book makes a great idea-germinator for creative writing and art projects.
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