If You Want to Be a Butterfly

by Mượn Thị Văn, Andrea Armstrong (Illustrator)

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.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

40 pages, Hardcover

Published October 3, 2023

About the author

Mượn Thị Văn loves to read books of all shapes and sizes. She first began reading yellow-spined hardbacks about a certain girl detective before graduating to longer novels and then picture books (it’s true, she doesn’t remember reading picture books as a young child). So few books reflected her formative experiences, though, that she desired to bring new and different stories into the world.

From her New York Times acclaimed debut, In a Village by the Sea, illustrated by April Chu, Mượn's books have received many distinctions, including a Northern California Book Award, a Golden Kite Award, a New York Public Library Best Book, a Kirkus Reviews Best Book, a Junior Library Guild Selection, and an Irma Black Honor Award.

When she's not writing, Mượn likes to roam the forests of northern California with her family.

Reviews

[R. L. Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable imaginative story! Lovely art, cute concept and a great way to spark conversation about manners!

[Theediscerning · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmm… A not unattractive book, but one that kind of negates things by presenting the life of a butterfly backwards – then has it forwards in the sciencey bit at the end. The text is reaching towards verse, and not without success, and has the feel of one of those mindfulness books at times, even when what it's really about is the complete contrast to that, in dealing with the hard and fast 'for this to happen, that has to happen, and for THAT…' message. I take it young minds just learning about life-cycles can deal with one spooled in reverse, but I doubt that approach was really that necessary. There remains scope in the 'for this to happen, then…' kind of discussion, but this would need a teacher to show more examples of that rule applying to life.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are so many picture books about the butterfly life cycle it is hard to imagine there is still new ground to trod. This book succeeds by telling the story of the butterfly life cycle in reverse. Starting with a butterfly and then telling what needs to happen before that -- all the way back to a tiny egg. The illustrations are really cute and re done in muted illustrations. More whimsical than sciencey, this would be a good read aloud. Lots of backmatter describes the butterfly life cycle in the regular order and has a little bit of conservation information.

[Justine · Rating 4 out of 5]

We were sent If You Want to Be a Butterfly as a giveaway win from the publisher. My daughter picked this book out. We really loved the artwork, it wasn’t too in your face but more muted but worked. We enjoyed the rhyming aspect of the verses. I really enjoyed the fact that it was told backwards, I found it very unique and I liked that we could look in the distance and see the next life cycle stage coming up.
We would recommend this read.

[Amanda Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great circle of life/life cycle in reverse book. The illustrations are friendly and warm. Children will enjoy this in an elementary science class. The main story is simple and at the end there are more details about each stage in the life cycle of a butterfly.

[Rebecca Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute little story on the process of becoming a butterfly. The author walks through what each phase is, what they will eat, and the final end result.

Great little learning book for kids, with a fun twist!

[Christine Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Through the story of the butterfly's life cycle, we learn about what it means to go through different stages of the human experience as well. The book as beautifully illustrated and poetic. I liked it a lot:)

[William Fung · Rating 5 out of 5]

Flutters gracefully through the circle of life in reverse, offering little readers an enchanting journey from wings to egg with vibrant illustrations and a poetic twist. Perfect for sparking young imaginations about nature’s wonders!

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars for this interesting perspective on the life cycle of the butterfly

[SamSamSam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this! Tells a narrative in an unexpected way. Background knowledge, print motivation

[Morgan Kosciuk · Rating 2 out of 5]

Life cycle was backwards, "if you want to be a butterfly, you have to be a chrysalis."

[Syntha Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the way it took a not so usual approach - from Butterfly backwards

[Viviana · Rating 4 out of 5]

4-5 stars

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the story of the butterfly started the opposite way most books do, telling the story starting with the butterfly all the way to the egg.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Preschool and school-age

[DiAnne Warfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

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