Review by Booklist Review
Author-illustrator Morris tells the story of a young girl looking for her courage before she starts school. The morning of her first day, May does not feel brave. She retreats to the garden, where she finds some calm and comfort in nearby plants and animals, but they do not quite succeed in banishing the butterflies from her stomach. Morris' textured collage illustrations, which make lovely use of pencil and muted watercolors, gently capture May's anxious feelings and develop the metaphor of flight, from butterflies in the stomach to young animals learning to fly. The story is reassuring, showing May's nerves fading gradually, rather than resolving all at once. As May finds familiar favorite activities and begins to make new friends at school, the butterflies in her stomach begin to recede and leave space for breakfast. The perfect preparation for kindergarten (or preschool) for children who might be feeling more than a few butterflies of their own.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Horn Book Review
At breakfast, May can't eat a bite -- her stomach is too full of fluttering butterflies. She seeks solace from the natural world in her back garden, whispering her fears to the goldfish in the fishpond and wishing she could spend her days like a bee among the flowers. May's mama reassures her that even her favorite creatures feel worried about trying new things: "A tiny bird has to learn to fly...Even a butterfly has to learn to spread its wings." But May is still anxious as she gets closer to what's worrying her: the first day of school. When she arrives, though, she finds an empty seat at the coloring table and a new friend along with it. Depictions of May's bustling classroom in mixed-media illustrations that include pencil and pencil crayon will beckon to readers and viewers. Occasional spreads featuring expressive vignettes against white space enliven the presentation. Morris's encouraging language ("May's classroom...was warm and bright") and calm illustrations will soothe soon-to-be students and apprehensive caregivers alike. Just right to dispel those pesky butterflies everybody faces sometimes -- "and when they are gone, there is finally room for breakfast." (c) Copyright 2024. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A first-day-of-school book focused on the quiet side of worry. May, a light-skinned, red-haired girl, can't eat her toast--the butterflies in her tummy are fluttering too hard. So she heads to the garden, where she lets a ladybug run over her hand, watches a bee fly by, and gazes at the goldfish in the pond, wishing she could trade places with the creatures she observes. Though she jumps, skips, and hops, she can't banish the butterflies. It takes readers some time to learn the source of May's fears: school. But when she finally goes, she finds a new friend, and the butterflies slowly subside. Matter-of-fact prose pairs with poetic musings ("butterflies like to live in gardens much more than they like to live inside children") and will resonate with adults and more introspective kids. Morris' muted illustrations, rendered in watercolor, collage, crayon, and colored pencil, make effective use of negative space; the sharp reds of the wallpaper and the jelly on May's toast offer hints to her inner turmoil, while calm blues, yellows, and greens bring to life an idyllic garden setting and a classroom populated by diverse students. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Contemplative fare for thoughtful young worriers. (Picture book. 4-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
