The Truth about Butterflies

Gr 1-2–Informational text about butterflies and caterpillars details their anatomy, camouflage, defensive colors, and variety. Illustrations of their complex metamorphosis are accompanied by the cartoon characters’ commentary. The butterflies and caterpillars provide humorous comments. Other illustrations depict a cat that is looking forward to eating one of the butterflies, a few smart-alecky birds, and a particular caterpillar that looks like bird poop. Large blocks of facts appear in text boxes and may challenge the attention spans of some young readers. The more extensive text is essential, though, for the breadth of the subject matter. Colorful illustrations of butterflies are inconsistently labeled with the butterflies’ common names and home continents. The differences between butterflies and moths are offered in parallel illustrations that identify their unique antennae, wings, and body types. The text concludes with information about environmental threats to butterflies and how readers can help their survival.