Review by Booklist Review
A caterpillar emerges from a small egg and munches on a leaf. Over 12 days, she repeatedly outgrows her skin, which splits and sloughs off several times. When a bird threatens her, she rears up, scaring it away. She sheds her skin one last time, becoming a pupa attached to a stem. Two weeks later, a butterfly emerges, legs first, and unfolds its wings. A child nearby calls to her, "Fly, Butterfly!" And she does. An appended double-page spread clarifies the life cycle process by showing the stages of transformation and telling how long they last. Rockwell's attractive illustrations, "created with watercolor washes and digital tools," offer close-up views of the action. Combining the large format of picture books with the brief words, large type, and short sentences (two to six words), the book is intended for beginning readers. Fortunately, like many other books in the I Like to Read series, it is also highly accessible to preschoolers when read aloud. A clearly written, informative introduction to the wondrous life cycle of the black swallowtail butterfly.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 3--The butterfly's life cycle is perennially captivating fodder for emergent readers. The four stages of metamorphosis from egg to larva to pupa to butterfly is one of nature's most fascinating glow-ups, albeit a sometimes gritty and perilous one. Rockwell's illustrations have a rich amount of detail, vary perspective frequently, and are sure to delight budding entomologists. From the caterpillar's defensive pose to the wet wings of the newly emerged butterfly, the illustrations underscore the miraculous transformation of metamorphosis at every turn. Rockwell is able to convey a lot of information in this leveled reader, and she reiterates the metamorphosis cycle with more specific time frames in the back matter. VERDICT Against all odds, an often-told tale of egg-to-butterfly feels new again. A recommended purchase for transitioning readers.--Sarah Simpson
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A butterfly's life, for early readers. A small, brown-skinned, brown-haired child watches as a caterpillar grows, pupates, and emerges as a black swallowtail butterfly. (This species, identified on the dedication page, is familiar across much of the continent east of the Rocky Mountains.) What's striking about this book is its careful accuracy in words and pictures. The title page shows five stages of the butterfly's life, from egg through several morphs to the final image of a female adult near a dill plant, a food commonly eaten by swallowtail caterpillars. Inside, readers see the tiny egg and then the emerging caterpillar on parsley leaves, another food it often eats. Brief text, rendered in a large font, clearly charts the insect's journey. Attractive, uncluttered illustrations include the frass and the shed skin the caterpillar leaves behind as she eats and grows. Two spreads show her defending herself from an avian predator. She sheds and pupates. The child discovers her pupa. (Appropriately, Rockwell has used the simpler term rather than chrysalis.) The little one watches through sun and rain and is rewarded by the sight of the butterfly emerging, stretching her wings, and flying off. Concise text and thoughtful illustrations document a remarkable transformation, another of nature's wonders. (life cycle diagram) (Informational early reader. 4-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
