Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, dear friends! I’m fluttering about, just like the character of today’s awesome book…excited to share this brand-new story with you! And tomorrow, you are in store for another treat when debut author Zeena Pliska stops by. (And guess what? She is generously offering a pb manuscript critique as a giveaway prize…woo hoo!) We’ve already met the talented illustrator, one of my fellow Stormies, Fiona Halliday. She chatted with us earlier this year when her author/illustrator debut, Numenia and the Hurricane, launched.
HELLO, LITTLE ONE: A MONARCH BUTTERFLY STORY
Written by: Zeena M. Pliska
Illustrated by: Fiona Halliday
Published by: Page Street Kids (May 2020)
Ages: 4-8
Themes: Monarch butterfly, life cycles, friendship
Synopsis: From Amazon:
Caterpillar crawls from leaf to leaf, eating and waiting, all alone in a big, green world. Then Orange appears―Orange floats, and flits, and flies, graceful and beautiful. In this sweet, moving story of intergenerational friendship, a small caterpillar is befriended by a glorious monarch butterfly, and together they learn to see the world through each other’s eyes.
Why I love this book:
- The life cycle of a Monarch, told in such simple language that the youngest child can understand it…but with such depth of emotion, adult readers will have tears in their eyes.
- Glorious illustrations – can you embody a caterpillar and a butterfly with emotion? YES…if you are talented like Fiona Halliday!
- Kudos to debut author Zeena…in addition to being a fabulous #STEM book, this is a perfect friendship story.
RELATED ACTIVITIES:
Photo courtesy: https://artfulparent.com/marbled-paper-plate-butterfly-craft/
For detailed instructions to make the paper plate butterflies: https://artfulparent.com/marbled-paper-plate-butterfly-craft/
And please enjoy the trailer below:
Please remember that our favorite books need our support – if you can, please buy a copy from your indie bookstore – you will be supporting your local businesses at the same time. Amazon and Goodreads reviews are also much appreciated. Libraries will be reopening at some point, and many even have an online option for patrons to request a book be purchased for the library’s collection. And last, but certainly not least, please share this good news with your friends and on social media.
Make sure to leave a comment to be entered in the giveaway of a manuscript critique from Zeena…why not share what insects fascinated you the most when you were a kid.
For more wonderful picture book reviews and activities, please hop over to Susanna Hill’s Perfect Picture Book Friday post.
And don’t forget to be back tomorrow for a fabulous Q&A with author Zeena Pliska.
VIVIAN KIRKFIELD - Writer for Children 
This book looks absolutely marvelous! When I was a kid I was fascinated by roly-poly bugs. I loved how they could roll up into little balls and then unfurl and start crawling again. And of course I think I’ve always been mesmerized by butterflies. Thanks Zeena for making a fun #stem book for kids!
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Looks like a great story. As a kid, I was fascinated by ants. I even built an ant farm from a kit and loved watching them tunnel (that is until they escaped and I was made to get rid of it!)
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Love collecting monarch eggs to raise with my kids
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Love this book about flutterbys, which is what I call them. I teach science. This will be great you young kiddos!
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This looks like such a wonderful story. Congratulations on your debut book.
I’ve always been fascinated with butterflies and ladybugs.
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Oh this looks wonderful! My students will love it!!!
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Sounds like a wonderful book!
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Looking forward to reading this one. Science meets friendship is my favorite kind of story!
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Congratulations! This sounds like a great book. As a kid I was interested in ladybugs. No real reason, I just liked them!
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This looks fabulous! I can’t wait to read it! Congratulations on the debut!
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The books looks wonderful and just right for my granddaughters. I remember liking flies as a child and letting them crawl over me. Now I despise them. I also loved fireflies and am of the generation that put them in glass milk bottles. So glad that cruelty seems to be gone.
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I love monarch butterflies and watching them all the way through a life cycle. It is awesome to catch one the exact second it emerges from its chrysalis. Congratulations on this wonderful book. I’m excited to read it.
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This looks heartwarming and delightful! I love the illustrations, too!
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Beautiful! I’ve always been fascinated by butterflies, but also bees and ladybugs. Congratulations on the the new book, Zeena! Best wishes!
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Congratulations, Zeena! Your book looks gorgeous and many children will enjoy the journey. Brilliant to make it intergenerational — even I am curious!
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I remember chasing butterflies when I was little. Never caught one. My son’s Waldorf preschool teacher would have the kids sit on a wooden walkway over a creek and wait for butterflies to land on them. And they did it! The kids loved it! This looks like a wonderful intro to butterflies, Vivian.
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Such a sweet book!
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I loved your video and the inter generational theme. I’m looking forward to reading this book.
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This book looks wonderful. I love the title, too. Congratulations, Zeena! Thanks for this post, Vivian! When I was little I liked collecting grasshoppers in my Fisher Price barn, and then letting them go of course. 🙂
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Beautiful! The excerpts of the text are musical and the artwork stunning, both engaging. I look forward to immersing myself in this story of friendship. As a child I was fascinated by fireflies. Still am.
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