My Book of Butterflies

by Geraldo Valério

This stunning exploration of butterflies from around the world is a companion to My Book of Birds

Geraldo Valério grew up in Brazil, watching white butterflies visit the vegetable patch behind his house. As he got older, he learned more about these unique and beautiful insects, which can be found on every continent except Antarctica.

In this gorgeous album, Geraldo presents his favorite butterfly species from around the world. Paint and paper collage illustrations show the butterflies in flight, sipping nectar, laying eggs and resting among flowers and foliage. The text provides fascinating information about each species — from familiar Monarchs and Giant Swallowtails, to dazzling Blue Morphos and tiny Snowflakes, from beautifully patterned European Peacocks to endangered Queen Alexandra’s Birdwings. Colorful endpapers, showing the butterflies as caterpillars and chrysalides, complete this beautiful book for budding young naturalists.

Includes an introduction, world map, fully illustrated spreads showing a butterfly’s life cycle and body parts, as well as a glossary, index and suggestions for further reading.

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Science, Nature, Animals, Childrens

48 pages, Hardcover

Published August 3, 2021

About the author

Geraldo Valerio’s work as an author and illustrator has been published in the United States, Canada, Brazil, Portugal, France, the United Kingdom and China.

Geraldo lives in Toronto, Canada. He attended university in Brazil, receiving a bachelor’s degree in drawing from Federal University of Minas Gerais. He earned a Master of Arts degree from New York University in 2000.

Reviews

[Caterina · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 Gorgeous large-format picture book of the author's layered cut-paper collages introducing a diverse array of butterflies from all continents* of the world, with a tidbit or two of information about each butterfly. The cut-paper layers reminded the author of butterflies' layered wing-scales. The book is organized by continent by using a different page background color for each continent (though that is not fully explained and could be missed, I think). It was interesting to see that many African butterflies resembled butterflies I see here in Texas, the U.S. "capital" of butterflies.

I think the author's origins as a native Brazilian who now lives in Canada possibly meant he chose slightly different butterflies to represent North America than usual for U.S. authors, although of course the Monarch was included! Although I've seen more than 40 species of butterflies in my North Texas garden, only two of Valério's North American butterfly selection were familiar to me -- I appreciated that! I was also quite taken by the enchanting examples of green butterflies -- the Malachite in South America and the Kaiser-I-Hind in Asia -- I've never seen a green butterfly in real life. As other reviewers noted, the book's end papers are really special, depicting the caterpillars and chrysalides. In the book's main section would have liked to see both sides of the wings of all the butterflies instead of just a few.

*except Antarctica, where they don't live ...

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous, gorgeous illustrations of butterflies. I liked that they are grouped by continent, and that most illustrations show both the open wings and closed wings since, so often, the colors and patterns are different depending on which side of the wings you view. End papers show caterpillars and cocoons. There's not much text, this is mostly a visual feast. Still, I learned a few things and the back matter includes a glossary, index and list of sources. So, definitely recommend if you or your little one love butterflies. (Just note, if you think all butterflies sip nectar, this will correct you -- and you might find it cool and/or gross what some eat some sip liquid and nutrients from dung, and the Purple Emperor even eats carrion!.)

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A stunningly illustrated presentation of Valério's favorite butterfly species from around the world. Beautiful paint and paper collage art depict the butterflies in flight, sipping nectar, laying eggs and resting among flowers and foliage. Simple text provides information about each species, including Monarchs and Giant Swallowtails, Blue Morphos, tiny Snowflakes, European Peacocks, and the endangered Queen Alexandra’s Birdwings. Colorful endpapers show the butterflies as caterpillars and chrysalides.

[Miranda M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher and I’m now eager to make it a staff pick at my work.
When I picked it up, I just expected a neat picture book about butterflies. What I got was a gorgeous, humbling book that put a huge smile on my face and warmed my heart.
I absolutely adored Geraldo Valério’s dedication to studying the butterflies and his attention to detail paired with the simple paper collages of plants to draw your eye all around the page.
The endpapers are an additional treat, featuring each butterfly as a caterpillar and a chrysalis.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspired by the butterflies he watched coming to his childhood home, Geraldo Valerio covers some of the world's most unique butterflies in his book, My Book of Butterflies. Organized by continents, the author presents several examples of butterflies found within these areas. Presenting their common names, scientific names, and little facts about them, the butterflies take center stage in the pages.

Fully captivating, and with beautiful illustrations done, Geraldo manages to capture the gentleness and beauty of the butterflies he covers in this book. Uniquely done, the illustrations are faithful to the real counterparts and little details in their designs make them more real. A nice little touch is that the cover and end pages includes the caterpillar and pupa stages of the featured butterflies as well. I do wish that all the ones featured in this book were equally presented, as a few of them only had little to say on. The endnotes features the bibliography he used to help create this book and I found notable authors and sources I had looked into as well on my interest of butterflies. With that, My Book of Butterflies is an exquisite book of learning about the world of butterflies to children.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful photos of many butterflies mixed with facts about each and how to decide what you have when you see one. A good resource when learning about butterflies. The illustrations are wonderful and detailed and the front inside cover and back are labeled and the caterpillars before the butterflies are shown. The illustrations are large and detailed with blurbs about each one. There is also a glossary at the back of the book and cocoons for you to see.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a stunning collection of butterflies beautifully illustrated. With each is a little blurb about the butterfly. On the inside of the front cover are illustrations of each caterpillar that later becomes the butterfly. On the beginning pages: The Metamorphoses - butterfly's life cycle; Parts of a Butterfly; Where do Butterflies Live? Inside the back cover is the illustrated chrysalis of each butterfly shown in the book. Fascinating.

[Bozhena Levine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for the copy of this amazing book. Stunning illustrations and short, clear informational paragraphs about each butterfly make this book a must have and a must read. The endpapers are brilliant as well, showing the butterflies in the caterpillar and a cocoon stage. Simply gorgeous!

[Barbra · Rating 5 out of 5]

With simple text readers will learn about the butterfly life cycle, anatomy and where they can be found. Gorgeous illustrations fill the pages along with facts about different species. This picture book is a must have for young butterfly enthusiasts

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pictures of butterflies, organized by continent where they live.
For each butterfly, there's a paragraph of information.

The end-papers have pictures of the butterflies as caterpillars and as chrysalids.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my fetus years of teaching, I would have never picked up this book. I felt like children needed to see photographs. Now I have realized incorporating quality art helps open and inspire their minds. This is absolutely gorgeous.

[Juli Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Visually stunning.

[Hunteraa · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful book! The illustrations are beautiful and the book was really informative!

[Christie Angleton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Those endpapers tho 👀

[Aarvik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful read!

[Carol Tilley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely collage illos and accessible info re butterflies of the world.

[Baby Arie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Visually Stimulation: 10/10
Story: 1/10
Grownup Enjoyment: 9/10
Woke? 👎🏾
Why not real photos?

[Flora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very beautifully illustrated!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great pictures and info on individual species.

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.