Bye, Bye, Butterflies!

A boy is delighted to see children releasing butterflies off of a rooftop (shouting “Bye, bye, butterflies!” as they do so) while walking with his father; months later, his class receives its own box of tiny caterpillars that he learns will also transform into butterflies. Larsen playfully depicts the caterpillars’ development from striped and polka-dotted grubs to cocoons, as the children—cartoon caricatures with exaggerated eyes and oversize heads—observe and document the subtle changes. When Charlie and his class finally release the butterflies, another boy glances up to the rooftop and waves to Charlie. A tender story about life cycles, metamorphosis, and a common childhood experience. Ages 4–up. (June)