Since I spent many years teaching first grade I have long been on the hunt for yet one more alphabet book.  Finding The Butterfly Alphabet Book filled two academic needs for me.  It is dandy for use for sounds sounds work and letter introduction i.e. phonics, and, I it is also super for use it during our science work.

Opening the cover and finding an Apollo butterfly sets the stage for what is to follow.  A different species butterfly along with brief descriptive text accompany each letter of the alphabet before ending with the Zephr Metalmark.  My students are continually captivated to realize that as with everything else there is no one size fits all when it comes to most critters. 

Dog may mean Mrs M’s Guye the daschie, or a child’s poodle, or grandma’s collie. And Butterfly may mean a large insect with a broad wingspan, or a tiny bit of color darting among the flowers in the garden.

Together we peer through the wings of a Transparent butterfly and gaze in wonder while viewing a Queen Alexandra Birdwing.  Little Learners always ask where is her crown, and, is she a real queen, or boss of the butterflies.

A to Z provides an incredible adventure as we discover the beauty of the world's most gorgeous insects. We discuss camouflage and why butterflies or other critters need to hide as we search for the Indian Leaf Butterfly!  Kids are amazed to learn that skinny body and thin antennae help delineate butterflies from the chunky body and fuzzy antennae moths.  We learn that Ulysses Butterfly and Urania Moth are cousins and read more of the differences and similarities of the various species.  Writers Jerry Pallotta and Brian Cassie have created a wonderful resource for use at home and in the classroom with their enlightening manuscript. 

Illustrator Mark Astrella's detailed and magnificent artwork brings gasps of wonder and delight as Osage County First Grade oh and ah while Mrs M reads, and turns the page. I like Astrella’s technique of more blurred background and sharper focus of the moths and butterflies to help center children’s attention upon the insects.

I enjoy listening to Little People speak with understanding that the Magdalena Alpine’s wings, black, help keep the little insect warm by absorbing light, while the Transparent Butterfly with those see through wings gives us a chance to add the word transparent to our vocabulary.

I like that basic butterfly facts are interwoven into the edition.  The life cycle of a butterfly is added to help children understand the tie between caterpillar and butterfly, over lapping scales are shown indicating how the butterfly coloring is achieved.  We discuss how or why a particular moth or butterfly may have gotten their name.  What is it about the Dogface or the Great Purple Hairstreak that might have caused something to think this a good name.

The Butterfly Alphabet Book is an often chosen for overnight trips home as children share with parents and siblings, is brought often to the rug for me to read, is taken by children to their table as they attempt to draw some of the lovely creatures portrayed and is chosen for free reading during DEAR reading.  While Emergent Readers may not be able to read all the words; I find they enjoy sitting with a friend and talking about the various moths and butterflies and talking and talking about them. 

Happy to recommend for classroom reading shelf, home, school and public library catalogue, gifting a special child’s birthday or other holiday or for Little Student to gift the class on the first day of the new school term. 

Available  Amazon      Paperback  Kindle  Hard cover

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Reviewed by Molly Reviews BOOKS     molly   martin

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Internet bio reveals Jerry Pallotta is an award-winning author of children's alphabet books and imaginative fiction.

He combines interesting facts, detailed research, humor, and realistic illustrations that mesmerize children everywhere.

Brian Cassie is a naturalist who has seen and heard thousands of animals on five continents.

There are hundreds of animals with double-sound names, including the wonga wonga, which is one of his favorites. 

Brian is the co-author of The Butterfly Alphabet Book. He lives in Foxboro, Massachusetts.

Mark Astrella is a self-taught artist who has drawn and painted most of his life. 

Born in Worcester, Massachusetts, Mark always knew he would be an artist.

 He learned most of his technique by looking at art in his hometown art museum and by studying books, comic books, and science fiction magazines.