Butterfly is a non-fiction book. This book is very short and simple. But it tells about the life cycle of a butterfly. At the end of the story there is a part where it talks each stage of the life cycle for a butterfly in more detail, which is nice for teachers to be able to talk about their students more about each cycle. Teachers could use this in class while talking about the life cycle of different bugs. The teacher could also have the kids draw out their own life cycle of a butterfly so they can keep it and remember how a butterfly becomes a butterfly. The illustrations are very helpful for this book because students may know what a butterfly and a caterpillar look like, but maybe not a chrysalis. The photography is very well done. ( )

Summary
It is a book about how a butterfly is made. It has high quality pictures in it that describe the different stages in life it goes through to be a beautiful butterfly. At the end of the book it shows a more complex description of each stage of a butterfly will go through.

Personal reaction
The book was an easy read. The book just used pictures to show how the butterfly grew. The last page in the book went into more detail. I like how the book to used high-quality pictures to show each stage, so that the student who is reading it can fully process what is happening to the butterfly.

Classroom extension
1. The teacher can take the student outside to find catapilars.
2. The teacher can order a catapilar for it to grow in the classroom so the students can watch the process everyday.

Summary:
Butterfly is a book about a monarch butterfly. This little book informs readers about the growth and development of a butterfly. The story begins by asking “How do butterflies grow?” Throughout the story the author, Susan Canizares writes step by step instructions and illustrations on how a butterfly develops from an egg to a caterpillar, from a caterpillar to a cocoon. Ultimately, at the end of the story there is a picture of a beautiful monarch butterfly.

Personal Reaction:
This informational book is an easy read for children of all ages. The pictures are bright and large for children to be able to see clearly. My favorite insect is the butterfly. It doesn’t matter the size, shape, or color of a butterfly for me to like it. To me, butterflies signify a transformation and new beginning. I feel I am forever transforming myself into a “new” me.

Classroom Extension Ideas: 1.) Create a life cycle of a butterfly out of different materials. Go on a nature walk and collect some green leaves before the project begins. For the body of the butterfly, use coffee filters and allow the students to paint the filters different colors. Use different color pipe cleaners to tie the middle of the filter and make the antenna. For the eggs, use small white pom-poms and glue them onto the green leaves that were collected. For the caterpillar, cut empty egg cartons and have the students decorate using paint, wiggly eyes, and pipe cleaners for legs. For the chrysalis, use brown yarn rolled up. Have each child chart their life cycle on card stock to display on a wall in the science area. 2.) Go on a butterfly hunt. Purchase some mason jars and nets for each student at a local hobby or department store. Have the class go outside to catch some butterflies to place in their jars. Be sure to cut holes in the lid of the jar. Have some extra butterflies on hand in case some students don’t catch any.

Summary: This book is about the cycle of a Butterfly, how the butterfly goes from an egg to a caterpillar, and the caterpillar goes into chrysalis, like a cocoon then hatches out into a Butterfly. And the cycle starts all over again.

Personal Reaction: The book has great illustration and picture in it that show how a Butterfly is created. This book will help not only to show picture, it goes through the cycle of the Butterfly from an egg, Caterpillar, to the Chrysalis.

Classroom Extension:
1.The teacher can read and show the students the cycle of a Butterfly using the book because the book has great illustration in it.
2.The students could draw the stages of the Butterflies life, and talk about what they learned about the cycle of the Butterfly.

Summary: This book is a Scholastic Book and it tells all about a butterfly. It tells how a butterfly goes from an egg to a caterpillar, then a chrysalis and eventually it will hatch and become a butterfly.

Reaction: I like this book for younger kids who are a little further along in their reading. But I also liked that in the back cover of the book there was a glossary that would explain the words used in the book like Chrysalis. I think that would be helpful to the reader who might not know the word.

Extentions:
1. I would keep this whole collection of books in my room as they would be very useful in a unit on nature or insects.
2. The children could actually draw the stages of the Butterflies life kind of like a science lesson.
3. Possibly actually hatch butterflies in class if I could find all I would need for that.