Caterpillars and Butterflies

Make Way for Butterfly written and illustrated by Ross Burach

Butterfly learns from Bee that he too is a pollinator and can help in the important work of pollinating plants.

The Digger and the Butterfly written and illustrated by Joseph Kuefler

Digger and his friends meet a hungry caterpillar who chooses Digger as its safe place to make a cocoon, making Digger cease his work to care for the small creature who surprises him and his friends.

Becoming Charley written by Kelly DiPucchio

Unlike all the other caterpillars Charley sometimes wonders what it would be like to be a fawn or a waterfall, so when the day comes to form her chrysalis, Charley must decide who she will become.

Goodnight, Butterfly written and illustrated by Ross Burach

Butterfly wakes up while Porcupine is having breakfast, and Porcupine tries to explain what it means to be nocturnal and Butterfly considers the advantages of a nighttime life while trying to get back to sleep.

How Beautiful written by Antonella Capetti

When a caterpillar is called “beautiful” one day, he wonders, what could that mean? No one has the same answer. A bear declares that honeycomb is beautiful, the squirrels find dry leaves are beautiful, and a mole loves his beautiful burrow. All the while, the blackbird disagrees with each answer! Will the caterpillar ever find out what beautiful means?

Nonfiction

What’s inside a caterpillar cocoon?: and other questions about moths & butterflies written and illustrated by Rachel Ignotofsky

Have you ever wondered what happens inside a caterpillar cocoon? Or how moths and butterflies are related? Or what the difference is between a cocoon and a chrysalis? Wonder no more!

My Book of Butterflies written and illustrated by Geraldo Valério

This stunning exploration of butterflies from around the world is a companion to My Book of Birds. Geraldo Valério grew up in Brazil, watching white butterflies visit the vegetable patch behind his house. As he got older, he learned more about these unique and beautiful insects, which can be found on every continent except Antarctica. In this gorgeous album, Geraldo presents his favorite butterfly species from around the world.

Easy Butterfly and Chrysalis Craft for Kids: https://www.aboutamom.com/easy-butterfly-chrysalis-craft-for-kids/

Pom Pom Caterpillar Craft: https://www.messylittlemonster.com/2020/01/caterpillar-craft.html?m=1

Monarch butterfly facts and printables: https://mother2motherblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Combined-Monarch-Butterfly-Activities.pdf

Butterfly Chromatography

Butterfly, Butterfly by Petr Horacek

For a great color activity to go with this book, Katie Murtha suggests the following link:

http://buggyandbuddy.com/chromatography-butterflies-separating-colors-in-markers/

Metamorphosis

Tadpole’s Promise by Jenne Willis

Monarch and Milkweed by Helen Frost

We have a puppet that converts from a caterpillar to a butterfly, so it gets a lot of usage. A simple flannel board could also be constructed to show the process. There is an example of one at http://www.dltk-kids.com/type/felt_board.htm.