Really delightful ( )

I was lucky enough to come across Butterfly Park by Elly Mackay a couple of months ago at Chapters Bookstore in Victoria, B.C. The illustrations are so enthralling and the time and detail put into each one is incredible. It is worth having a look at Elly's process for creating illustrations, which involves careful cutting of paper, painting, setting up of scenes and then photography. The images are whimsical and colourful with a balance of clear and soft focus.

Moving to a new town, the main character must leave behind the things she loves. She particularly misses the butterflies and must find a way to adapt and make friends in her new town which at first, appears quite bleak and grey. By the end, she creates and discovers friendship and beauty in Butterfly Park. And she finally feels at home in her new surroundings.

The story and images work together beautifully. The page turns are suspenseful and the story is totally relatable for young children. The story is a celebration of friendship, community, beauty, and change. ( )

I chose this book because I review a fiction book about butterflies/ insects. My informational book is about dragonflies.●I would use this book when covering a theme about insects. This book would also connect with different students because it captures the attention of both boys and girls.Many activities can go along with this book; like capturing a caterpillar and watching it turn into a butterfly or learning the butterfly sequence. This was overall a really good book. I like how Mackay emphasized the importance of unity in order to get a task done. ( )

A young girl moves from the country to the city and misses all her old friends and nature. In the city she finds an abandoned butterfly garden and begins to collect a group of friends and neighbors who help her rebuild the garden and bring back the butterflies.
Age: 3-5
Source: Puyallup Public Library

When a little girl moves to a new town, she finds a place called butterfly Park. But when she opens the gate, there are no butterflies. Determined to lure the butterflies in, the girl inspires her entire town to help her. This beautifully illustrated children's book is a good example of the genre contemporary realistic fiction, because the story could happen in real life. Also, the main character in the story, is a girl that many children can relate to, the book begins with her having to move, a change that many families go through that can be difficult and uncomfortable for children.

Media: paper-cuts and collage.