On a Butterfly's Wing - by Astrid Vargas (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

"An absolutely delightful book. The concept, the story, and especially the glorious illustrations are simply wonderful." -- DAME JANE GOODALL, U.N. Messenger of Peace

From one of the world's leading conservation biologists comes a beautifully illustrated, autobiographical story about how the parallel lives of a butterfly and a beloved mother can help us to reflect on the unique privilege of being alive.

In an era of global change, we need narratives that offer hope. On a Butterfly's Wing: Lessons from Nature on Embracing Change is just that, inviting readers to discover what these remarkable creatures can teach us about our own difficult transformations.

This book not only shows us how to restore our relationship with the butterflies that mitigate and measure our planet's health, it invests profits in planting flowers--arranged in butterfly shapes--to feed future generations of pollinators.

Review Quotes

"On a Butterfly's Wing is a beautiful and heartfelt book about the transformation of butterflies and the lessons they teach us about adapting to change. It is brim full of inspiration and joy for these magical creatures and gives a timely reminder of the need for their conservation." (Martin Warren, former CEO, Butterfly Conservation)

"Every so often a book comes along with a sweep and magic that means that you'll rarely find a copy languishing in a second hand bookshop because it has metamorphosed into a family treasure." (Sir Tim Smit, Founder, The Eden Project)

"The true story of a butterfly's life and death, told from the viewpoint of the butterfly. Unique and moving, it reminded me how lucky we all are to experience the miracle of existence." (Professor Dave Goulson, world-renowned enthomologist, University of Sussex, UK)

"This exceptional book is an inspiration, a personal guide, and a call to action. A beautifully illustrated autobiography of a butterfly based on a true story, it spins a magic that captures hearts and leaves us with hope and a determination to do better. For ourselves, for nature - and for the butterflies. A brilliant read for all ages and a philanthropic tool for rewilding butterflies." (Kris Tompkins, U.N. Environment Patron of Protected Areas, Tompkins Conservation)

"This is a profoundly moving book. Astrid Vargas articulates beautifully how the key to ecological restoration is the inspiration of people." (Ben Goldsmith, Founder, Conservation Collective)

About the Author

Astrid Vargas is an award-winning conservation biologist with a track record in setting up, developing, leading, and monitoring environmental restoration programs. She has been a key figure in the recovery of three of the world's most endangered species: the Iberian lynx in Spain, the black-footed ferret in North America, and the golden-crowned sifaka in Madagascar.

Astrid believes in the power of art and inspiration to transform society. She is the founder of Inspiration 4 Action, an initiative that inspires communities to bring collective creativity into ecosystem restoration.