The Butterfly House

Last updated Wednesday, March 31, 2004

Author: Eve Bunting
Illustrator: Greg Shed
Date of Publication: 1999
ISBN: 0590848844
Grade Level: 3rd
Date(s) Used: April 2004

Synopsis: After saving a caterpillar from a hungry bird, a young girl consults her grandfather and together they build a butterfly house. Considering the barren box, the child determines to bring outdoor beauty indoors, so the pair create a colorful "garden" of painted flowers to line the sides and a blue sky on the inner lid.

Tips for reading the book: This book emphasizes showing kindness towards all living things and how that kindness can be returned.  There is also a focus on sharing special activities with your grandparents.  A picture walk and reviewing the vocabulary of a butterfly's life cycle will help you with your reading group.

Discussion topics:

• What activities do you do with your parents/ grandparents? How is that special?
• Where do butterflies come from?
• What do you do with insects when you find them? Why?

Craft ideas:

• Make your own "butterfly house." (bring ahead option ­ bring something like a shoebox to help make it)
• Make a paper wristband, and divide it into several portions. On each portion, draw the stages of the butterfly. Make a little 3-D butterfly for the final stage.

*Note: These craft ideas are just suggestions. You can use them, but you don’t have to use them. You can expand upon them, or add your own twist. Remember, though, that the focus of your time should not be on the development and execution of a craft; the focus should be on the read-aloud and the enjoyment of the book!