If You Want to Be a Butterfly

From acclaimed author Muon Thi Van comes an innovative exploration of a butterfly’s life cycle — in reverse.

“If you want to be a butterfly, then arise, unfurl and welcome the waiting world,” the narrator of this playful book begins. Readers will flit from flower to flower with an adorable butterfly … hold on tight with a chrysalis through all sorts of weather … munch away with a greedy little caterpillar … sit very, very still and dream big with a teeny tiny egg. It’s a magical journey back in time, ending up … at the beginning!

Award-winning author Muon Thi Van’s lyrical language and use of the second person make this delightful picture book a perfect choice for interactive read-alouds, sure to spark the imagination and free the butterfly in every child. Lively and engaging, it promotes curiosity, observation, interpretation and discussion. Charming illustrations by Andrea Armstrong add personality to the butterfly that befits each stage of its development. This is a unique and captivating introduction to a key life science curriculum topic. The book ends with a full description with illustrations of the butterfly’s life cycle that highlights the important role butterflies play in ecosystems.