"I had been raising butterflies for 30 years by the time
I attended my first butterfly festival. One vendor had
a small selection of native plants. As I was anxious to
experience the life cycle of a different butterfly species,
I asked the proprietor whether she had any host plants
that might bring butterflies to my tiny garden in the
suburbs. She picked up a pearly everlasting and
promised me that American ladies Vanessa virginiensis
would find the plant in my garden. I was not so sure."
One of the amazing things that comes with a renewed interest for many in what is happening to our environment is our need to find ways to make things better. As many were forced to stay at home during the pandemic, some families turned to creating peaceful spaces in their own backyards and began thinking about the many issues that are affecting birds, butterflies, and bees. Ensuring that our yards are places that provide sustenance, people are reading books and informing themselves to the steps they can take to help these creatures survive and thrive.
Carol Pasternak has been raising butterflies for many years. This text focuses on 4 butterfly species (Monarch, American Lady, Eastern Black Swallowtail, and the Question Mark) and 1 moth (Cecropia).
In her introduction, she invites her readers to explore nature, something too few kids are encouraged to do these days. There is so much to discover there, and every day outside brings a feeling of awe and makes us feel better. Observing butterflies is one way to get started. You will need an adventurous spirit, a magnifying glass, and time to spend. Deciding what is a butterfly and what is a moth is clearly explained, and will be noted the more observations are made.
Each of the species included is given its own chapter. Here, readers will learn about characteristics, life cycles and where they can be found. Ms. Pasternak's reporting shares her love, and provides engaging text for readers. In chapters following the initial introductory one for the monarch, she adds further content: Protecting Monarchs and Inviting Butterflies to Your Garden. If you are at all interested in finding out how to create a space for monarchs and to watch them through their growth cycle, you will discover everything you need to know here.
The design remains the same for other species included. As you read, you will learn about butterfly farming, and how they play a role in biodiversity of all ecosystems. Conversational and accessible text is written to speak to their beauty, their value in pollination, their diet which results in them consuming weeds, and their presence in helping determine how healthy an environment is.
A concluding chapter describes ways children, in their families and classrooms, can help by creating a habitat that will attract butterflies. by writing letters to politicians to ask them to help make changes to get people involved in protecting habitats and learning more, by making pollinator gardens a part of the plan for cityscapes, and to try not to use insecticides. A size comparison page is included for readers to see each of the species' wingspans. Amazing! A list of resources, a bibliography, glossary and index are appended.
Most of all ... get outside and observe what is happening where you live. Learn more through your own eyes about the wonders of butterflies and so much more.
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