IT’S A BUTTERFLY’S LIFE

Almost any five-year-old can tell you the basics of a butterfly’s life. The little egg lands on a leaf. The caterpillar hatches, eats an enormous amount, forms a chrysalis and then—a beautiful butterfly! Kelly, in this superb companion to It’s a Hummingbird’s Life (2003), takes these facts to a detailed and altogether fascinating level. Did you know that a butterfly can taste with its feet? That male Wall Brown butterflies emit a chocolate scent? That when enough caterpillars are eating in a tree, their droppings sound like rain hitting the ground? The watercolor illustrations are clear and vibrant, with different species of butterflies clearly labeled. A book that proves science nonfiction can be accurate, factual and completely engrossing, this is a must for libraries and any curious nature lovers. (Picture book/nonfiction. 4-10)