I Wish I Were a Butterfly

by James Howe, Ed Young (Illustrator)

The littlest cricket of Swampswallow Pond is convinced only by the Wise Old One that being special has nothing to do with physical metamorphosis, flashy colors, or shimmering wings. “The cricket is every child who stopped the music because someone criticized casually, thoughtlessly. It takes a wise friend to bring the music back.”-- School Library Journal

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Friendship, Self Esteem

40 pages, Paperback

First published February 28, 1987

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

James Howe has written more than eighty books in the thirty-plus years he's been writing for young readers. It sometimes confuses people that the author of the humorous Bunnicula series also wrote the dark young adult novel, The Watcher, or such beginning reader series as Pinky and Rex and the E.B. White Read Aloud Award-winning Houndsley and Catina and its sequels. But from the beginning of his career (which came about somewhat by accident after asking himself what kind of vampire a rabbit might make), he has been most interested in letting his imagination take him in whatever direction it cared to. So far, his imagination has led him to picture books, such as I Wish I Were a Butterfly and Brontorina (about a dinosaur who dreams of being a ballerina), mysteries, poetry (in the upcoming Addie on the Inside), and fiction that deals with issues that matter deeply to him. He is especially proud of The Misfits, which inspired national No Name-Calling Week (www.nonamecallingweek.org) and its sequel Totally Joe. He does not know where his imagination will take him in the next thirty-plus years, but he is looking forward to finding out.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, this is a fantastic story. It is a powerful message for every generation. I don't think the art work is the best thing every, but it does a great job also. If the art was a little better this could be a 5.

This book is about self-esteem and self-love. There is a cricket who is told by a grumpy old frog that is it ugly and the cricket believes it to be true. He wants to be a butterfly. This story touched someplace deep in me with it's powerful message. Many animals try and tell the cricket it is beautiful and the cricket won't listen. Nothing and no one can fill him up. He is full of the frogs words. Isn't it amazing how one person's words will fill us up and that's all we can hear. Luckily, the cricket finds a way to have self-love. You have to read the ending. This story is powerful.

Being happy with who we are is so important and I hope all children and people can find what it is that makes them proud to be themselves. It has been a life's journey for me.

The kids enjoyed this little story. Both of them don't have this problem, thank goodness. Still, I think they enjoyed the story.

James Howe spoke of coming up with this idea with a group of kids in Ohio and he wrote the middle and ending. This is from 1987 and the idea is still here. I think that is so cool. I hope the book last another 30 years.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book about self-acceptance and self-love. Ed Young's pastel illustrations are gorgeous: dark and subdued in some places, and suffused with vibrant color in others with a richness throughout. After a frog tells him he is ugly, a cricket wishes to be a butterfly. A glowworm, ladybug and dragonfly tell him to ignore the frog, that appearance is not important, but the cricket sees them as beautiful and feels that they cannot understand. It is the spider who helps him to see himself through the loving eyes of a friend and to appreciate his gift for music. The irony of what the butterfly wishes fully realizes this tale of a fundamental human struggle.
This story would be wonderful to share through a group read-aloud and discussion. It would be a perfect fit in a self-esteem curriculum.

[Christopher Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little cricket moans and groans about how ugly he is. He is so upset that he cannot make music. The frog living at the edge of the pond has told him he is ugly and he moans to everyone that he wishes he were a beautiful butterfly. The other insects try to comfort him, but he whines how easy it is for them being beautiful. Finally, his old friend the spider is able to make him realize that he is beautiful in his own way, and he is finally able to make beautiful music again.

I Wish I Were A Butterfly is a wonderful story about accepting yourself for who you are. The story is filled with repeating phrases that children will wish to follow along with as they begin speaking. The spider’s wisdom about everyone being special in their own way is a great moral for children to be exposed to.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow.

[Micaela · Rating 5 out of 5]

no matter how many times I read it I still love it!!!

[NayDoubleU · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore this book. Its easy to follow along and helps the child understand low self worth and gaining positive self worth. Maybe too long but easy to shorten for kinder. Very sweet and will be in my future classroom and is one of my favorites.

[Books, Brews & Booze]

This is one of those books that made me wonder if it's really one of those children's books that is written for adults.

But then I think, aren't adults just little kids anyway, especially during the times when we feel ugly and wish we looked like someone else... someone more glamorous than us?

I really like the artwork in the book. It's soft and beautiful.

POTENTIAL SPOILER:

Sometimes I find myself being overly critical of the language in children's books and wondering if it sends the 'wrong message.' This talks about believing you are beautiful and the main character doesn't start to believe he is until someone tells him he is.

But before I get all up in arms about them message and whether I'm reading too much into it, I think: Well, it feels damn good when someone says you're beautiful. And I believe the message is that everyone has beauty, everyone thinks they don't, and everyone wants to be someone else sometimes. But that it's important to get real and know that it's OK to feel hideous sometimes, it's OK to feel beautiful and you're more beautiful than you realize. :)

I can't believe I waxed this poetic on this, lol.

[Josiah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The brilliant illustrations of Caldecott Medal winner Ed Young shine forth from these pages in glimmering resplendence, framing the beautiful words of James Howe in ways that border upon perfection.
"I Wish I Were a Butterfly" is a gorgeous story that will reverberate deep within the heart of any reader who feels less than special for any reason at all. The coarse words of the frog and the wisdom of Old One, the most winsome spider in literature since Charlotte, contrast and ripple apart from each other like waves in a deep and unfathomable ocean, gently guiding the reader into a world in which his feelings and thoughts will be appreciated by the author, and never ignored or brushed aside.
Few picture books there are that can compare with the sweet beauty of "I Wish I Were a Butterfly".

"Why, if I were to believe what everyone says about me, I would think myself quite, quite ugly. But I don't believe everyone, you see...I believe you because you are my friend. You think I'm beautiful, and so I am."

—The Old One, "I Wish I Were a Butterfly"

[Ashley Wampler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet book about a cricket who thinks that he is ugly and wishes he was a butterfly. He meets different bugs who all tell him basically the same thing- he cannot be a butterfly. Then he meets a spider who tells him that he is pretty. Little cricket realizes that he is special and begins to play his beautiful cricket music. When a butterfly flies by, she says that she wishes she could play beautiful music and that she would love to be a cricket.
I love how this book teaches the message of loving yourself for who you are, and that it teaches children that everyone is special in their own way.

[Caroline Petty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that makes me very emotional because of the beauty of the words. It's written in such a profound way that it causes a need for accomplishment and self improvement. It is a book that really enables children to feel the words that are written. It is a perfect story to teach children that we all have unique abilities and special things in our own lives that allow us to be valuable people. Instead of feeling remorse at what we do not have, we should feel pride for everything that we do have.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who hasn't lamented that they weren't something or someone else? In this story, a cricket wishes it was a butterfly, believing butterflies to be the most beautiful creatures. It takes a wise old spider to show the cricket its true beauty, and in a twist a butterfly wishes it were a cricket after hearing the creature's beautiful music.

Pastel illustrations do a great job of putting readers at insect level and of capturing the passage of light.

Overall, a beautiful story that readers can not only relate to, but gives them plenty to ponder.

[Breana Vining · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is about a cricket who wishes to be a butterfly because he thinks he is ugly. He goes on a journey and expresses his desire of this to other animals/insects. He meets a butterfly who wishes that she were a cricket...he feels much better about himself-this is a story that inspires all to not only fing the good things in others, but take a minute to find the good qualities within yourself.

[Megan Goss · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked the illustrations because of the color and the soft painted lines. The illustrations are all full bleed, 2 page spreads. The book deals with the issue of identity and being insecure. The cricket thinks he is ugly and wants to be a butterfly ,but no matter what other bugs say, he still isn't happy with who he is. Only until he talks to the Old One does he start believing that true beauty comes from within.

[Sadie Devin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would be another book that would make a good transition from picture storybooks to short chapter books. There is a lot of writing per page with very simple illustrations. The illustrations are very cool colors with soft brush strokes making the story seem light and happy. This book has many lessons within it such as the beautiful sounds (or characteristics) that each insect has and how they can enjoy each others sounds.

[Alma Loredo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book can really help a child build their self-esteem. Children are always teased and some believe what others say. This book helps us realize that we are perfect just the way we are and if we were to change into something else we would not be happy because we are already happy the way we are but we do not always notice it.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The littlest cricket of Swampswallow Pond is convinced only by the Wise Old One that being special has nothing to do with physical metamorphosis, flashy colors, or shimmering wings. “The cricket is every child who stopped the music because someone criticized casually, thoughtlessly. It takes a wise friend to bring the music back.”--School Library Journal

[Adalyn McCarty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a beautifully written picture book, it was bit lengthy so it would make a great transitional read between a picture book and a short story book. The soft illustrations make the book flow, since there are lots of words on each page. The book has many lessons with itself, such as the different sounds all the insects make and I think it would work best in a 3-5 classroom.

[Darlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

genre - picture book

topic and theme - cricket wants to be a butterfly

Curricula use - guided reading 2nd or 3rd grade

Social - self-image, friendship

Literary elements - imagery, personification

text and pictures - text is interconnected with pictures

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book would be a good book to discuss theme. The overall theme is to love who you are and have good self esteem. Also, it addresses lots of different types of insects--so tying it into science could be possible as well.

[Sandra Vicars · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful story about a cricket who thinks himself ugly and his quest to become a butterfly. He encounters many beautiful creatures that help him realize that he is quite special. Be the best you can be!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A patron recommended this one to me this afternoon. i love when that happens.

[Becky · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like the way that this book deals with beauty and self-image - a lovely book!

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love this little book. It has such a good message - kind of on the longer side for tiny ones, but the message comes across so well. Very well done.

[DeLys · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book about learning to accept yourself for who you are and what you have to offer.

[Monique Mcdonald · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book that teaches one about self esteem, great for kids who struggle with this self esteem.

[Datoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would use this book for sequencing. It is also good to build self confidence.

[Audrey Harlan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. Its a great read for students because it talks about self image and loving who you are even when its hard.

[Tania]

Good book to use to help build self-esteem.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kindof boring

[Danet]

butterfly unit book