Maybe it started the first time I read The Very Hungry Caterpillar (Philomel) to my son. It could have been Painted Lady eggs we hatched in our kitchen that year or perhaps it’s the amazing visitors to the butterfly bush planted near our back door.

It’s been fun to see the butterflies and other insects come to the colorful blooms of the bush; we’ve even seen a hummingbird. It’s fun to identify them, too. And not surprisingly, it started with a book. We used A Young Naturalist Guide to Butterflies (Houghton) but since have graduated to Peterson’s Guide .

For younger children Lois Ehlert’s Waiting for Wings (Harcourt) combines image and information to encourage looking closely at the natural and colorful world — from egg to butterfly.

Whatever the inspiration, here’s hoping that your summer is filled with wings of color!

About the Author

Maria Salvadore is Reading Rockets’ consultant for children’s literature and literacy. Maria curates our themed booklists and writes the blog, Page by Page, which explores the best ways to use kids’ books both inside and outside of the classroom. She leads parent workshops for Ready To Learn (RTL) at WETA Public Broadcasting in Washington, D.C. She has also taught children’s literature at the University of Maryland, reviewed books for School Library Journal, and has served on various book award committees, including the Boston Globe/Horn Book Awards, Golden Kite, and the Caldecott Committee.

Publication Date
July 26, 2007
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