Traveling Butterflies - by Susumu Shingu (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Monarch butterfly migration is one of nature s great mysteries. How do monarchs manage to fly some 2,500 miles from Canada and the northern United States south to Mexico? How do they trace a route they have never flown and reach the same destination their ancestors once found?"--Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

Monarch butterfly migration is one of nature's great mysteries. How do monarchs manage to fly some 2,500 miles from Canada and the northern United States south to Mexico? How do they trace a route they've never flown and reach the same destination their ancestors once found?

Traveling Butterflies indulges the awe these creatures inspire by taking a poetic, meditative look at the monarch's life cycle. In a lyrical voice that seamlessly blends fact and storytelling, the book zooms in to show a monarch's progression from an egg the size of a dewdrop through growth, metamorphosis and preparation for their journey south.

Rich illustrations in a vibrant color palette bring the butterflies to life and depict the rural and urban landscapes through which they fly. Rounded out with a page of factual text about monarchs and their migration, this informational picture book will leave readers equal parts informed and entranced.

Review Quotes

"An enjoyable read for those intrigued by the impressive travels of a delicate insect. Highly recommended."-- "Canadian Review of Mateials"

"At once poetic and informative...perfectly suited for shared reading."-- "The Horn Book Inc."

"Beautiful."-- "Booklist"

"Beautifully written and illustrated...you read this book like a song."-- "Resource Links"

"Combining the precision of science with the grace of poetry and lovely illustrations, this book is natural for budding [ento]mologists."-- "Kirkus Reviews"

"Descriptive language and colorful illustrations make this an enjoyable, short read. Recommended."-- "School Library Connection"

"Expressive text...Shingu provides lush, bold illustrations...a brief, but useful introduction to butterfly ecology."-- "School Library Journal"

"Shingu's economical yet poetic language is well-suited to the sparseness of his images."-- "Publisher's Weekly"

"The perfect combination of story and non fiction text. I would highly recommend this book for both its aesthetic appeal and the curriculum content."-- "Canadian Teacher Magazine"

About the Author

Susumu Shingu, an internationally known sculptor and architect, creates works that move with the natural energy of wind and water. Owlkids Books published his picture book Wandering Whale Sharks in Spring 2015.