Butterflies Belong Here

Published by: Chronicle Books; Illustrated edition (August 4, 2020)

Pages: 68

Lexile: 780L

Ages:  5- 8

ISBN:  978-1452176802

Website: www.deborahhopkinson.com

What can you do when you move to a new country and cannot even speak the language?  The main character in this book went to the library and with the librarian’s help, found books on butterflies.  At first, she was so shy, she positioned herself in the back row behind other students. As she learned the language and learned about monarch butterflies, she began to feel more confident.  She learned that monarch butterflies are in danger due to the loss of milkweed.  Milkweed is the plant that female monarchs lay eggs on and the baby caterpillars eat only milkweed.  Milkweed has been considered a weed therefore, it has been eliminated from many areas.  For a school project, she created a poster telling about the decline of monarch butterflies and why it is so important to have the milkweed plants for them.  Students became interested and the class decided to create a monarch way station for migrating butterflies.  The young girl came out of her shell like a butterfly emerges from its chrysalis.  

At the end of the book, there are pages with notes, a guide to making a monarch way station, facts, and other information.

About the Author:  Deborah Hopkinson is an award winning-author who has written over 70 books for children and young people.  She writes historical fiction and nonfiction.  She lives with her family near Portland, Oregon.  

Meilo So is the illustrator of Butterflies Belong Here and has also won many awards for her illustrations. She lives in the Shetland Isles with her husband and daughter.  

Reviewed by Audrey Campbell, MED

Reading Specialist and Library Media Center Director

Valley Adventist Schools, Rogers Campus

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