I Am a Butterfly: A Story About Big, Beautiful Changes

Have you ever been scared of the dark? Or big life changes? Then let a butterfly show you the way.

I Am a Butterfly is a charming story, told in dazzling photographs, about a monarch butterfly who faces metamorphosis, overcomes her fear of the dark chrysalis, and takes flight with beautiful new wings. Big, beautiful changes, no matter how scary at first, can bring new friends and new opportunities filled with delicious nectar.

Resources and action points provide many ways to become actively engaged in protecting the monarch butterfly population at home or at school. You’ll learn how to attract monarchs to your own backyard, which will be lots of fun and can help grow back the endangered monarch butterfly population.

Although perfect for teachers, parents, kids, and monarch butterfly lovers, it’s also a great book for adults going through big changes who need to be reminded that after the dark scary chrysalis come the beautiful wings.

So whether you’re teaching kids about metamorphosis, or you’re a kid or adult who loves monarchs and the wonders of nature, or you’re simply finding your way through one of life’s big changes or challenges, a butterfly can show the way.

I Am a Butterfly includes:
•Beautiful photos of each stage of metamorphosis
•Ideas to attract monarchs to your school or backyard
•Resources to protect monarch butterflies
•Internet links for butterfly research
•A life cycle diagram
•Fun facts about butterflies
•Opportunities to discuss life skills

Kirkus Reviews
"A monarch butterfly tells the story of her life cycle in this nature-themed picture book.

In this informative work, a monarch butterfly takes young readers through each stage of her existence. ... Nature photographer Stone (Golden Words, 2015, etc.), the recipient of an Audubon Top 100 photography award and author of nonfiction works for adults, draws children into this real-life story of metamorphosis with resonant simplicity. An image of a penny demonstrates the relative size of the tiny butterfly egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, and adult monarch.

The winged narrator's short but graceful sentences are well-placed against generous white space alternating with full-page, close-up photos of monarchs in nature. The book ends with a list of intriguing butterfly facts (they "taste with their feet," for instance), a pictorial chart of the monarch's life cycle, photos of other butterfly types, tips on how to help stop the monarch's slow flight toward the endangered list, and links to resources for further exploration."

An engaging book for children with vivid photographs and a simple, graceful narrative."

"This charming tale about the monarch butterfly’s life cycle will inspire wonder at this mysterious process of change. Readers will be motivated to attract monarchs to their own backyard and help the endangered monarch population. Butterfly photographs throughout will capture the reader’s imagination!”

—Dr. Lincoln P. Brower, Research Professor of Biology at Sweet Briar College, and author/co-author of more than 200 publications about monarch butterflies

"This lovely children’s book captures the science and the splendor of the monarch’s miraculous adventure from egg to butterfly. The author’s own dazzling photographs guide the reader on the fascinating journey of metamorphosis and serve as a metaphor for the beauty to be found on the other side of surprising life changes."

—Tierra Curry, Senior Scientist at the Center for Biological Diversity, works to protect endangered species and leads the Center’s campaign to save the monarch butterfly

 

"I Am a Butterfly is an exquisite, metaphorical story describing the organic transformation of one butterfly as it moves through its life cycle. The various life cycle stages, so beautifully photographed, parallel the process and patience needed to mindfully cultivate awareness of our own human experience of change."

—Susan Lubar Solvang, Founder and President, Growing Minds, Inc.