First Comes a Butterfly

First Comes a Butterfly

When energetic Isla stays with Grandma at the lake house in the woods, her natural curiosity finds her following a monarch butterfly. One day at a time, she discovers the secret life of the monarch from the larval stage and into adulthood. Young and old readers alike will delight in this book's beautiful illustrations, and learn valuable lessons about the importance of wildlife preservation along the way. "First Comes A Butterfly follows Isla, a curious kid spending time at her grandma's lake house. She gets swept into the timy world of monarchs and ends up raising a caterpillar from egg to chrysalis. The story wanders through early mornings, milkweed leaves, plump caterpillars, and the magic of metamorphosis. It feels like a gentle walk through nature with Grandma guiding the way, showing Isla how fragile and amazing this little cycle of life really is. Reading this children's book made me feel warm and kind of giddy. The writing has this soft, cozy glow that made me wish I had a lake house, too. I liked how simple everything felt, even though a lot was happening. The scenes with Isla checking the egg each day make me smile. I also loved the excitement when the chrysalis formed. The book treated small moments like big ones, and it worked. I got pulled right into the kid mindset. The idea that most monarch eggs never make it made me sad. The book never gets heavy, yet it still sneaks in those real truths. I also enjoyed Grandma's energy. She felt believable, sweet, a little goofy, and totally the kind of person you want showing you how the world works. The pacing matched the theme of waiting and watching. I really liked how each page mixed real photographs with artwork of nature. The blend made everything feel both magical and believable at the same time. The photos grounded the story in the real world, and the illustrations added a soft, dreamy vibe that pulled me in. It felt like stepping into a scrapbook made by someone who really loves the outdoors. This picture book makes you look at tiny living things with more care. I'd recommend this book to kids who love nature and to young readers who want a warm, calm read with a bit of wonder. It would be great for reading together on a quiet night or for any young reader who likes learnng without feeling like they are being taught." Literary Titan Sherry Krehbiel is a retired Montessori facilitator and has three decades of experience in education. She spends most of her time in the outdoor classroom where learning has no boundaries. She and her husband, Mark, spend half the year in Kansas and the other half on Tablerock Lake in Missouri.Sherry is often found exploring and planning her butterfly garden by the lake where FIRST COMES a BUTTERFLY takes place. Besides butterflies, Sherry and Mark have raised three children who have given them nine amazing grandchildren. Now retired her interest is providing children's books for teachers to enrich their students' learning opportunities and for children to want to hear or read over and over again. Simon loves the outdoors and reveals this in his detailed images that add an enchanting and ethereal quality to his work. He has a passion for wildlife conservation and spends time exploring the wild world with his wife, kids, and dog.