World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishments

by Aimee Nezhukumatathil

On more than one occasion I found my youngest squatting down, talking to it, cheering it on, like the monarch was in some kind of race: C’mon, you can do it! Don’t you want to be born, little butterfly? We have lots of milkweed to nibble!