Butterflies are an amazing way for kids to learn about the amazing life cycle of nature. And these butterfly books for children will help them understand just what a butterfly has to go through to become a beautiful insect.
My boys are just nuts for butterflies. Whenever we hear of a butterfly garden nearby, we have to go. Plus, down in Florida, my father has planted a garden that specifically attract butterflies. And boy do we love watching them flit about!
You can find these butterfly books for children at your local library or purchase through the affiliate links provided for your convenience.
Butterfly Books for Children
A Butterfly Is Patient: From the creators of the award-winning An Egg Is Quiet, A Seed Is Sleepy, and A Rock Is Lively comes this gorgeous and informative introduction to the world of butterflies. An incredible variety of butterflies are celebrated here in all of their beauty and wonder, from the tiny Arian Small Blue to the grand Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing. Perfect for a child’s bedroom bookshelf or for the classroom!
My, Oh My–A Butterfly!: All about Butterflies (Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library): With a little help from the Cat in the Hat, Sally and Dick observe a small miracle in their own backyard—the metamorphosis of an egg into a caterpillar into a chrysalis into a bright new butterfly! Along the way, beginning readers will find out how butterflies see thousands of images at once, drink nectar from flowers, avoid predators, and can be identified by size, shape, and color. Readers will also follow the amazing migration of millions of monarchs.
Pinkalicious and the Little Butterfly: Pinkalicious is so excited when Miss Penny brings monarch caterpillars to class. She makes friends with one and watches as it turns into a pinkamazing butterfly!
National Geographic Readers: Caterpillar to Butterfly: Butterflies are all around us. It’s hard to believe these majestic insects with impressive wingspans and beautifully colored and patterned wings were once creepy crawly caterpillars. How in the world does this transformation happen? This Level 1 Reader gives kids an up-close look at exactly how a caterpillar becomes a butterfly. With bonus information including different types of butterflies and poisonous caterpillars, this reader is one of a kind.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar: This is the classic edition of the best-selling story written for the very young. A newly hatched caterpillar eats his way through all kinds of food.
Caterpillars, Bugs and Butterflies: Take-Along Guide (Take Along Guides): An introduction to the world of insects, caterpillars, and butterflies including identification information, educational activities, and fun facts.Invites young naturalists to spot wildlife. Safety tips are provided and interesting activities are suggested.
Butterfly Colors and Counting: An introduction to the world of insects, caterpillars, and butterflies including identification information, educational activities, and fun facts.Invites young naturalists to spot wildlife. Safety tips are provided and interesting activities are suggested.
Velma Gratch and the Way Cool Butterfly: It’s hard to be Velma, the littlest Gratch, entering the first grade. That’s because everyone has marvelous memories of her two older sisters, who were practically perfect first graders. Poor Velma—people can barely remember her name. But all that changes on a class trip to the magnificent Butterfly Conservatory—a place neither of her sisters has ever been. When a monarch roosts on Velma’s finger and won’t budge for days . . . well, no one will forget Velma ever again. Acclaimed and bestselling illustrator Kevin Hawkes and author Alan Madison celebrate everything butterfly—from migration to metamorphosis. Watch as Velma Gratch metamorphosizes from a timid first grader into a confident young scientist!
Are You a Butterfly? (Backyard Books): Caterpillar, chrysalis, butterfly; follow the metamorphosis of this familiar backyard creature as it evolves into a delicate flying insect.
Gardening for Butterflies: How You Can Attract and Protect Beautiful, Beneficial Insects: Create a haven for amazing butterflies like the striking spicebush swallowtail, the ice-blue echo azure, and the autumnal mylitta crescent—all it takes is choosing the right native plants. In Gardening for Butterflies, the Xerces Society introduces you to a variety of colorful garden guests who need our help, and shows you how to design a habitat where they will thrive. Butterfly lovers of all ages, unite! Learn the proven strategies for creating a garden that flutters and flourishes with life.
Like these butterfly books? Find even more engaging book lists for kids with more than 100 book-themed reading lists!
And since we’re talking about butterflies, you didn’t think I could resist sharing some beautiful butterfly coloring books, did you?
Butterfly Study Unit
In addition to offering recommendations for butterfly books, I’ve teamed up with some fellow bloggers to offer you homeschool and in-class resources to teach kids about butterflies! These unit study resources may contain affiliate links.
- Butterfly Theme Preschool Classroom Lesson Plans
- Butterfly Life Cycle
- Butterfly Life-Cycle Pattern Mats
- Butterfly Life-Cycle Puzzles for Numbers 1-20
- Butterfly Theme Home Preschool Lesson Plans
- Butterfly Life Cycle Sorting Activity
- Butterfly Life Cycle Write the Room
- Butterfly Addition Clip Cards
- Butterfly Life-Cycle Math and Literacy Printables K-1
- Butterfly Life-Cycle Preposition Match Up
- Sequencing Card Game for Butterfly Life Cycle / Science Games
- Base Ten Manipulatives Butterfly Life Cycle
- Butterfly Life Cycle Science, Math and Literacy K-1 BUNDLE
- Butterfly Journal Writing Prompts
- Giant Butterfly Garden
- Butterfly Costume
- Find the Letter B is for Butterflies from 3 Boys and a Dog
- DIY Ruffle Butterfly Bookmark from Living Ideas
- Butterfly Life Cycle for Kids (Free Printables) from The Natural Homeschool
- LEGO butterflies from Planet Smarty Pants
- Easy Kid Craft: Colorful Spring Butterfly Suncatcher from Crafty Mama in ME
- Where to see Butterflies in Nature from FrogMom
- Cupcake Liner Butterfly Craft from Raising Little Superheroes
- Butterfly Science from Schooling a Monkey
- How to Meet a Butterfly from Bambini Travel
- Butterfly Sensory Painting from Parenting Chaos
- Planting a Butterfly Garden from Our Daily Craft
- Butterfly Sensory Bin with Scavenger Hunt and Life Cycle Activities {Free Printables} from Living Montessori Now
- Butterfly DIY Window Clings from Gym Craft Laundry
- Exploring Butterfly Wing Patterns from CraftCreateCalm
- Butterfly I Spy Game from Simple Fun for Kids
- Life Cycle of a Butterfly Worksheet from Living Life and Learning
- Marshmallow Stamping Butterflys & Other Bug {with free printables} from Play Dough & Popsicles
- Preschool Butterfly Songs from Preschool Powol Packets
- Visiting a Butterfly House from Something 2 Offer
- How to Raise a Butterfly {with Free Butterfly Journal} from Books and Giggles
These are great! And perfect for spring 🙂