7 Picture Books About Butterflies

My, Oh My—A Butterfly!: All About Butterflies, by Tish Rabe, Aristides Ruiz, and Joe Mathieu
Who better to explain butterflies than the Cat in the Hat? With rhyming fun, the Cat tells Sally and Dick all about how a caterpillar becomes a butterfly, teaches them about the migration of monarchs, and more. Perfect for young readers!

The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle
This classic deserves to be in every child’s library, as it captivates readers of all ages. Follow along as the very hungry caterpillar snacks on lots of yummy foods, including fruit, chocolate cake, and a pickle! Plus, kids will get to watch as the caterpillar emerges into a beautiful butterfly! (Always my children’s favorite part!)

Fancy Nancy: Bonjour, Butterfly, by Jane O’Connor and Robin Preiss Glasser
Nancy’s friend, Bree, is having a butterfly birthday party, and Nancy can’t wait! Until she finds out she can’t come because she has to go to her grandparents’ 50th wedding anniversary party. What’s a girl to do? Filled with colorful illustrations, Bonjour, Butterfly will definitely be a favorite for any little girls who love butterflies, fancy things, and dressing up.

Elmer and Butterfly, by David McKee
Friends can always help, no matter their size! Elmer the patchwork elephant meets Butterfly when Butterfly is trapped by a branch. Elmer saves the butterfly, who hopes to return the favor one day. That day comes sooner than Elmer thinks, as suddenly he finds himself in need of saving! Can Butterfly come to his rescue? A cute read-aloud for young children.

Velma Gratch & the Way Cool Butterfly, by Alan Madison and Kevin Hawkes
Velma has two older sisters who have already been through first grade. Everyone remembers them; for their beautiful singing, fast running, or good grades in math. But what about Velma? How can she stand out? She’s anxious about measuring up until her class starts to study butterflies, and everything changes.

Gotta Go! Gotta Go!, by Sam Swope and Sue Riddle
Kids will love this book as they learn about monarch butterflies and their migration. The repeated phrase (“I gotta go! I gotta go!”) is funny and catchy, and children will enjoy learning about the journey of the butterfly in this fun way.

Butterfly House, by Eve Bunting and Greg Shed
A little girl saves a larva from being eaten by a bird and decides to bring it to her grandfather. He helps her create and decorate a house for it, made out of a box. This is a sweet story of a butterfly, kindness, and the friendship between a little girl and her grandfather.