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61st out of 65 books
—
57 voters
Velma Gratch and the Way Cool Butterfly
This School Library Journal Best Book of the Year celebrates everything butterfly, from migration to metamorphosis! It's hard to be Velma entering first grade. That's because everyone has marvelous memories of her two older sisters, who were practically perfect first graders, and no one even notices Velma. But all that changes on a class trip to the butterfly conservatory,...more
Hardcover, 40 pages
Published
October 9th 2007
by Schwartz & Wade
(first published October 1st 2007)
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2010 Monarch Award master list
The end papers depict an army of caterpillars on the front and a swarm of butterflies on the back, with Velma herself, an orange-tipped gratch, emerging over the course of the story from her older sisters’ shadows into a first grader with talents and interests of her own. She finds her 5 minutes of fame in the Butterfly Conservatory when a Monarch butterfly, orange like Velma’s hair, lands on her finger and refuses to leave. Everyone knows you can’t touch a butterf...more
K-2. Velma Gratch, the youngest of three sisters is entering first grade. When we first meet Velma she is feeling left out in school because the teachers seem to remember her sisters Freida, who had a voice like an angel and Fiona, who ran like the devil. The two older sisters also had a penchant for math and spelling. It seems everyone at school,including the class guinea pig, could remember the older Gratch sisters but no one could even remember Velma's name. Velma then tries to do the opposit...more
Velma Gratch and the Way Cool Butterfly.
Monarch Award Nominee for 2010
K-4th grade
Hawkes's illustrations of caterpillars on the inside cover and butterflies on the back cover represent the main character's metamorphosis. Velma is struggling to find her own unique talents and abilities as the unnoticed, youngest of three Gratch sisters. At the beginning of the story Velma is like a caterpillar and she eventually undergoes a metamorphosis into a butterfly. The illustrations vary in size from large...more
Monarch Award Nominee for 2010
K-4th grade
Hawkes's illustrations of caterpillars on the inside cover and butterflies on the back cover represent the main character's metamorphosis. Velma is struggling to find her own unique talents and abilities as the unnoticed, youngest of three Gratch sisters. At the beginning of the story Velma is like a caterpillar and she eventually undergoes a metamorphosis into a butterfly. The illustrations vary in size from large...more
Grade Level: K-2
Velma Gratch is the youngest of the three Gratch sisters, and has a tough act to follow as she enters first grade. Her older sisters are remembered fondly by Velma's teachers, making her eager to stand out from the crowd. At first Velma seeks out attention in negative ways, but eventually develops her own unique identity as she becomes entranced by the beautiful world of butterlies.
Students with siblings will relate especially well to this story of finding your own special niche...more
Velma Gratch is the youngest of the three Gratch sisters, and has a tough act to follow as she enters first grade. Her older sisters are remembered fondly by Velma's teachers, making her eager to stand out from the crowd. At first Velma seeks out attention in negative ways, but eventually develops her own unique identity as she becomes entranced by the beautiful world of butterlies.
Students with siblings will relate especially well to this story of finding your own special niche...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Poor Velma Gratch is overshadowed by her two older sisters. When her class visits a butterfly conservatory, a monarch butterfly lands on her finger and refuses to move. After days of carrying a butterfly around, Velma is finally able to release the monarch butterfly to migrate to Mexico.
My second grade students have been learning about and hatching butterflies in class. They made a lot of connections to the text and enjoyed seeing Velma's own metamorphosis.
The perfect book for my class, but no...more
My second grade students have been learning about and hatching butterflies in class. They made a lot of connections to the text and enjoyed seeing Velma's own metamorphosis.
The perfect book for my class, but no...more
Audience: This book is for primary elementary students. Because of its information on the cycles of life of a butterfly, I think it closely relates to 1st through 3rd graders.
Appeal: I think this book would appeal to 1st through 3rd graders because it is about a young first grader who gets intrigued by butterflies. It goes through the process of caterpillars to butterflies that I think kids will enjoy.
Application: I would use this book for a science lesson. I would get the children some caterp...more
Appeal: I think this book would appeal to 1st through 3rd graders because it is about a young first grader who gets intrigued by butterflies. It goes through the process of caterpillars to butterflies that I think kids will enjoy.
Application: I would use this book for a science lesson. I would get the children some caterp...more
I just loved this sweet story about Velma, the youngest of the three Gratch sisters. While her older sisters are still remembered by all the teachers for their accomplishments, poor Velma is overlooked, and if noticed, compared to her sisters. This goes on until Velma has an experience with a butterfly on a field trip that not only gives her an identity of her own, but helps her realize that she is "way cool."
I loved the smooth writing style of Alan Madison and the fun and quirky illustrations,...more
I loved the smooth writing style of Alan Madison and the fun and quirky illustrations,...more
Reviewed at: http://www.teachmentortexts.com/2011/...
Summary: Everyone remembers Velma's older two sisters, so Velma is trying to find a way to stand out herself now that she is in 1st grade.
What I Think: Velma is such a fun girl! I truly enjoyed her as a character. As a reader, I found her journey endearing and believable. Now, I liked this book even more as a teacher! First, it deals with choices and how standing out in a negative way is not a positive thing. Also, it is educational while stil...more
Summary: Everyone remembers Velma's older two sisters, so Velma is trying to find a way to stand out herself now that she is in 1st grade.
What I Think: Velma is such a fun girl! I truly enjoyed her as a character. As a reader, I found her journey endearing and believable. Now, I liked this book even more as a teacher! First, it deals with choices and how standing out in a negative way is not a positive thing. Also, it is educational while stil...more
I liked this story. I liked how Velma wanted to be known for who she was and not as the youngest of her sisters and how she learned that just being known wasn't good enough...she needed to be known for something good. Another thing I liked about this story was how she tried to learn more information about a topic on her own and how she tried to remember difficult vocabulary. The pictures represented the story well and added to the enjoyment of the story. A good read for anyone interested in butt...more
Dec 02, 2008
Abigail
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Young Butterfly Lovers
Shelves:
picture-books
Review Temporarily Removed.
Velma Gratch is the youngest of the three Gratch sisters and is entering the first grade. But it's not very much fun since all her teachers know about her are the good things her older sisters did. Velma tries everything to get special attnention just for her, but nothing seems to work. Then her science class starts to learn about butterfiles and Velma is fascinated. She learns everything she can about them and then she gets the fabulous news that her class is going to the butterfly conservatory...more
Remember first grade? Does your teacher remember you? Everyone remembers Frieda and Fiona, the older Gratch sisters, but no one notices Velma. They can't even remember her name! Velma is very sad and doesn't think she belongs in first grade. She isn't a good singer (like Frieda) or good at sports (like Fiona). She likes science, and she LOVES butterflies. When Mr. Plexipuss takes the class to the Butterfly Conservatory, Velma is all aflutter. When a monarch butterfly befriends Velma, what happen...more
Most younger siblings will tell you: an older brother or sister can be a hard act to follow. It never fails – big bro or sis make all the right choices, get the best grades, and generally make it impossible for anyone to top them. “Velma Gratch and the Way Cool Butterfly” tells the story of this familiar family struggle with honesty and humor.
Velma is the youngest of three Gratch sisters, and is desperate to make her mark. The accomplishments of Fiona and Frieda read like a how-to guide for hogg...more
Velma is the youngest of three Gratch sisters, and is desperate to make her mark. The accomplishments of Fiona and Frieda read like a how-to guide for hogg...more
Feb 17, 2009
Jackie
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
monarch-award-nominee-2010,
picture-books
Velma lives in the shadow of her two older 'perfect' sisters. When she enters 1st grade, she wants to be special, too. But, she doesn't have a magnificent singing voice, or the fastest legs in soccer, and she isn't a wiz in math or spelling...but she does love science. When the class takes a field trip to the conservatory (can-serve-the-story), a beautiful Monarch butterfly hitches a ride on Velma's pointer, until she remembers the way to help the butterfly fly home, with stupendous results.
This book would be perfect without the over-the-top bit about the butterfly staying on Velma's finger for days and days. Had it just stayed with her until she was outside and then she later saw a group of monarchs migrating and known that hers was among them, I would've given it 5 stars. I wanted Velma to be known for her intelligence and extensive knowledge of butterflies, not for some unrealistic freak incident. It would have a bigger impact on kids that way, I think.
I enjoyed reading this book, thinking about how the youngest sister tries to get noticed in school. I especially liked watching my youngest daughter's reaction as I read the book - Emily was so excited about the butterfly choosing Velma, that she (Emily) kept squirming around wanting to know just what happened to the butterfly! It's a cute story that introduces the concept of butterflies migrating during winter, and celebrates the youngest sibling getting attention.
Aug 25, 2010
Dolly
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
parents reading with their children
Shelves:
2010,
childrens,
education-school,
science,
fitness-sports,
poetry-song-music,
math,
south-central-america
This is a wonderful tale about a young girl trying to make a name for herself, following two very differently talented sisters. Velma feels lost and unnoticed, but finds a way to show how very special she is. The illustrations are great - we love the endpapers with the different caterpillars and butterflies depicted. We laughed at the "Orange-Tipped Gratch" and the "Small Gratchis." I like that the larger words are emphasized to help children remember them.
Dec 11, 2008
Lisa Vegan
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
younger siblings and those who appreciate butterflies
Recommended to Lisa by:
Abigail
This book’s message will resonate with younger siblings who feel overshadowed by their older sisters or brothers. The story is engaging and the pictures are worthy of a story where beautiful butterflies play a large role. I love how science is Velma’s best subject and appreciated the information given about the nature of butterflies. There’s just the right amount of humor and pathos, and Velma and her sisters are all depicted as likeable girls. This would make a good book for discussion within f...more
Audience: 3rd grade, this book has some challenging words but I feel would be enjoyed by all elementary aged students. It may be hard for the younger grades to read.
Appeal: This story is about a girl dealing with the transition from kindergarten to the first grade trying to fit in and find her place. I think this book would appeal to all elementary students because it would be a theme everyone can relate to.
2010-2011 Golden Sower Nominee
Appeal: This story is about a girl dealing with the transition from kindergarten to the first grade trying to fit in and find her place. I think this book would appeal to all elementary students because it would be a theme everyone can relate to.
2010-2011 Golden Sower Nominee
This is a book about a girl who wants to be remembered like her two older sisters and finally is when a butterfly lives on her finger. It has a clear beginning, middle, and end as well as an evident problem and solution for children to figure out. This would be a good book to read when learning about butterflies because it explains briefly how they turn into a butterfly with good vocabulary words.
Velma longs to escape the shadow of her older, more accomplished sisters. She wants to be remembered by her teachers and friends. At first Velma stands out by doing negative things such as singing too loud in choir and running too slowly in PE. Eventually Velma becomes interested in butterflies and becomes known for the butterfly that never leaves her finger.
Copyright: 2007
Genre: picture book
Copyright: 2007
Genre: picture book
Velma is the youngest of the three Gratch sisters. It's hard living in the shadow of her older sisters, who both left a legacy behind during their years in the first grade. Velma's greatest desire is to distinguish herself as an individual, and when her class begins a unit on butterflies she finds a wonderful way to do so.
Lovely, colorful illustrations and some funny repetition make this an excellent read-aloud book.
Lovely, colorful illustrations and some funny repetition make this an excellent read-aloud book.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Delightful read-aloud for children! It is one of this year's, Illinois Monarch Nominee Books! Velma is the youngest of 3 sisters. When each of her two older sisters were in first grade, one excelled at singing and the other one excelled at running. Now that Velma is in first grade, she too, wants to be great at something. She finds it through a monarch butterfly! The first-grade students whom I read this to enjoyed it tremendously!
I know that I have felt like Velma before. I wanted to be my own person and not compared to my sisters. Velma tries to do everything opposite of them but all it does is get her into trouble. Velma finally finds something that makes her special. She learns about what she loves and it allows her to experience something different than her sisters.
This is a great book about Velma, who doesn't think that there is anything interesting about her. Then, she becomes really interested in butterflies and something really cool happens that makes her just as interesting as anyone else. This book is great to use when talking about butterflies, because it also brings in science terms.
Perfect book to talk about butterflies with the students. This book in integrated with science where the teacher can create a extended activity where the students can create the cycles of a butterfly with different noodle types of pasta. Or the teacher can prepare an easter egg containings the items that relates to cycles of butterfly. The students will love to learn about butterflies!
A very sweet book. Children that love butterflies will enjoy hearing Velma Gratch's story.
I read this to my 3 year old son and he enjoyed the story and illustrations. I enjoyed the plot point that Velma had 2 older sisters and she wanted to be known on her own merits.
I read this to my 3 year old son and he enjoyed the story and illustrations. I enjoyed the plot point that Velma had 2 older sisters and she wanted to be known on her own merits.
Apr 09, 2013
Alyssa
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Young children 5 to 7
Shelves:
read-to-quinn
Quinn, 6.75 years, rated this picture 3 stars. I thought it was a really sweet book that took a cool turn at the end. It is about a young girl who is the youngest of 3 sisters and just starting school. She is somewhat haunted by her sisters accomplishments and wants to be known for who she is and her talents. There are some sweet points in this book such as when she is trying to remember these big words such as "migration" and repeats them to herself only to still mis-pronounce them. My daughter...more
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I love the idea Velmo emerging into a first grader with talents and interests of her own. This sounds like a great book that I should share with...more
Feb 22, 2009 03:52pm
Mar 01, 2009 07:13am