Maybe it started the first time I read The Very Hungry Caterpillar (Philomel) to my son. It could have been Painted Lady eggs we hatched in our kitchen that year or perhaps it’s the amazing visitors to the butterfly bush planted near our back door.
It’s been fun to see the butterflies and other insects come to the colorful blooms of the bush; we’ve even seen a hummingbird. It’s fun to identify them, too. And not surprisingly, it started with a book. We used A Young Naturalist Guide to Butterflies (Houghton) but since have graduated to Peterson’s Guide .
For younger children Lois Ehlert’s Waiting for Wings (Harcourt) combines image and information to encourage looking closely at the natural and colorful world — from egg to butterfly.
Whatever the inspiration, here’s hoping that your summer is filled with wings of color!
About the Author
Reading Rockets’ children’s literature expert, Maria Salvadore, brings you into her world as she explores the best ways to use kids’ books both inside — and outside — of the classroom.
Publication Date
July 26, 2007