A great introduction to the life cycles of butterflies, filled with helpful photographs. The intended audience is older children, but, as a newbie butterfly-er (defined as person who is as entranced with butterflies as a birder is with birds) I found this book very helpful. Of the twenty-three garden butterflies that are highlighted, most are butterflies I have seen in my area. ( )

This life cycle book is very informative in both a broad and specific sense. By beginning with the general characteristics of all butterflies' life cycles, it provides the reader with a good knowledge base to then explore more specifically the life cycles of each of the 23 butterflies discussed. This book might also be able to double as a field guide, as it points out specific physical characteristics at different stages in the life cycle that help identify each species. The vivid pictures for each butterfly at each stage of the life cycle were helpful in comparing and contrasting the different butterflies at different stages, as well as in engaging reader interest. ( )