"Goodbye roost
and hello tasty delights!
Hello dandelion,
hello sage!
Hello fennel,
hello milkweed!
Goodbye feast
and hello breeze!"
What a fascinating way to introduce young readers to a butterfly's life cycle! This newly-hatched butterfly moves from the darkness of its cocoon to the light of a brilliantly sunny day. What wonder there is to find in the nature that surrounds it: rocks, and tasty foods including fennel and milkweed. Once filled to the brim, the butterfly is off to dance on the wind. On every successive spread, new discoveries are made. Life is good.
The text then takes the tiny creature back to its past; explaining that to be a butterfly, it must first be a chrysalis.
"If you want to be a chrysalis.
then hold on tight
an do not let go."
No matter what happens, holding of is the goal of this part of the cycle. A chrysalis does not happen unless there is a caterpillar. The caterpillar is only ready to be a chrysalis if it has rudely chomped through a lot of leaves on a lot of plants. Finally, unless it was an egg first, it could never be a caterpillar. That egg had to be a tiny dreamer with no real experience in the world, only wishes for new and exciting times. Before the egg? Why, it had to be a butterfly!
Ms. Van's melodic text is paired with spirited digital images sure to appeal to a young audience. Back matter explains the full life cycle in scientific terms and encourages readers to get outside to explore habitats conducive to protecting these wondrous creatures.
No comments:
Post a Comment