MONARCH AND MOURNING CLOAK

Stewart and Brannen illuminate the parallel lives of two butterfly species.

The author focuses on the familiar orange monarch and the less-celebrated brown mourning cloak, comparing their adaptations through accessible verse. Poems like “Spotting Butterflies” contrast the monarch’s warning coloration (“Bright orange wings / keep it safe. / They scream, ‘Poison!’ / They stand out— / warning predators / to stay away”) with the mourning cloak’s camouflage strategy. Brannen’s illustrations, rendered in watercolor, pen, and pencil, evoke authentic field sketches, complete with color-swatch palettes, date and time stamps, and observational notes presented in a naturalist’s handwriting. The golden meadow spreads capturing monarchs gliding through purple coneflowers and daisies feel sun-drenched and alive, while forest scenes depicting mourning cloaks among oak trees use cooler greens and grays to convey shadowy woodland habitats. The stunning “A Winter’s Rest: Monarch” spread demonstrates Brannen’s meticulous attention to detail—hundreds of individual monarchs clustering on fir branches in their Mexican hibernation site create a mesmerizing tapestry of orange and black against evergreen and sky blue. Additional text expands on the poems with substantial scientific information about anatomy, life cycles, and survival strategies, while a spread titled “The Joy of Journaling” encourages readers to create their own nature notebooks. The sheer amount of information might overwhelm casual browsers, but enthusiastic young naturalists will devour every detail.

A pretty, thoughtful celebration.