Image from amazon.com
- Age Range: 5 – 8 years
- Grade Level: Kindergarten – 3
- Paperback: 40 pages
- Publisher: Chronicle Books (March 3, 2010)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 145214124X
- ISBN-13: 978-1452141244
EXCERPT from School Library Journal:
K-Gr 3-A companion to the equally stylish An Egg Is Quiet (Chronicle, 2006), this lovely combination of elegant watercolors and lyrical text is both eye-catching and informative. Readers follow the creatures from egg to flight as Aston takes them through the process of metamorphosis while describing various behavioral traits. With wing scales “stacked like shingles on a roof,” the butterflies come to life. While noting differences between moths and butterflies, the author makes no mention of the former’s “fluffier” antennae, and there is no definition for the term “instar” (which appears in an illustration caption). The Monarch migration gets a star turn, along with a veritable litany of names-Diana Fritillary, Ruddy Daggerwing, Painted Jezebel, and Elbowed Pierrot-as worthy of recitation as the dinosaur appellations so beloved of children. A lyrical, colorful, and elegant production.-Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY
Rationale for Inclusion:
Harnessing the popular themes of nature and environmental awareness, the beautifully-illustrated book increases scientific literacy and introduces concepts like the life cycle, migration, and natural camouflage to young readers.
Bonus: How to use A Butterfly is Patient in the classroom (with Common Core standards identified) here.
Children's Materials: Large Group Bibliography 