Product Description
In this moving narrative poem, Bob Carlisle and his daughter Brooke recapture the emotions so eloquently expressed in Bob's hit song which reached the top of the pop, country, Christian, and adult contemporary song music charts.Told in conversational verse between father and daughter, Butterfly Kisses celebrates the shared love, trust, and hope that create a unique bond between father and daughter.This Little Golden Storybook hardcover edition makes it a must-have for every daughter's bookshelf. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

So cute!
I used this book as a gift for my dad on father's day. The song Butterfly Kisses has always been 'our song.' He loved it!

An accompaniment to the song
It's difficult to find books for little girls that center around their relationship with their fathers. But, Butterfly Kisses, written by Bob and Brooke Carlisle and illustrated by Carolyn Ewing, is such a book. The book is basically a two-way conversation between father and daughter, where they share special moments together - like saying bedtime prayers and dancing across the floor - celebrating the unique bond between the two.

If the title sounds familiar, perhaps it's because it reminds you of the contemporary song by the same title and by the same author. Bob Carlisle recorded the song Butterfly Kisses. This book is based on the song. The text of the book is written in rhyme (in narrative poem form), but other than talking about some of the things that are in the song, the book is quite different from the song itself. Although the book makes a good accompaniment to the song, the book text stands alone.

The illustrations are colorful and life-like and realistically illustrate the relationship between a father and his daughter.

What I Like: I like the idea of a book for fathers and daughters. Their relationship is a special one that is not well represented in children's literature, particularly in the area of Christian children's picture books.

What I Dislike: As mentioned, the text is written in rhyme. And, as you've probably heard me say before (if you've read many of my reviews), it's very difficult to write in rhyme and do it well. For the most part, the text flows smoothly; however, there are a couple of places where the rhyme is a bit forced. Altogether, it's very well done, though.

Overall Rating: Very good.

Age Appeal: 4-8.

Christine M. Irvin - Christian Children's Book Review

A truly touching little book
I bought this for my 9 month old daughter's stocking this Christmas, more for her daddy than for her. It was truly special to both of them and exceeded my expectations of the book. I am glad I chose this book.

I guess I was the only one
Idon't listen to country or cristian, so maybe in song form it is better, but I found the story as well as the illustrations to be rather creepy. Daddy is the king and Daugher is the QUEEN? eeeewwwwwww. I know it had to rhyme and whatnot, but this whole poem/song/story is icky to me. there is a line in it about loving you no matter how much you squirm or something equally blech. even where it isn't sort of inappropriate, it is sickningly shmaltzy and when my child takes this golden book from the bookcase, i have to hold back the bile, while trying to make up new words for the charachters to say. and the illustrations are nasty. the people look like marionettes, there isn't much about this book I can recommend. I keep meaning to chuck it.

Heartwarming!
My dy wanted this book to read to our dd as she grows up.I read it and decided to order another copy to give to my dad for Fathers Day.It reflects beautifully the loving relationship that is unique to a Daddy and his little girl. ... Read more

Product Description
Describes the life cycle, body parts, and behavior of the monarch butterfly. Includes instructions on how to raise a monarch. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Excellent Non-fiction
Great non-fiction book.We use it to teach non-fiction writing using the Lucy Calkins Units of Study and we love it! (and all Gail Gibbons books!)

Excellent Science Book
This is an excellent book for children to learn about life cycles.The text and illustrations make the wonderful miracle of life come alive for the readers.Beginning with the egg and ending with the beautiful Monarch the author clearly explains the changes that take place.Information is also included about the migration patterns of these interesting creatures.The last pages explain how children can raise monarch butterflies so that they can observe this miracle of life first hand.I would highly recommend this book to teachers who teach life cycles as part of their curriculum

From Katrina Holder (7 years old)
I like this book because you can learn things about butterflys that you did not know before. You can also tell other people about it to. The pictures are very nice and pretty. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (12)

A good book for to read if you are a housebound out-doorsy type person.
This is perhaps the most boring book I have ever read.And I tend to like boring.I like to sit out on the porch and watch the rain fall.But this takes boring to new levels.This man travels around in a car called "Powdermilk" (boring?) and looks for butterflies.Okay, I confess I didn't read the whole thing.I read the first 7 chapters, and he hardly found any butterflies.There are no pictures, just descriptions of driving around in Powdermilk, eating pancake breakfasts, talking to outdoorsy people, and having everyone think he's Kenny Rogers.Five-hundred and fifty pages!!!And he says something about avoiding surfers.So if you want a poetic, fairly well-written description of driving around America wishing to see butterflies and spending time with only one genre of people (no surfers), then this is the book for you.I might read more of it.On a busy, overwhelming day, it is nice to vicariously live someone's boring tour.

A Big Year in the Life of a Lepidopterist
In birdwatching slang, a Big Year is a year in which one sets oneself the goal of seeing as many distinct species of birds as one can.Naturalist and author Robert M. Pyle, a butterfly fancier from way back, got the idea of doing a Big Year for butterflies, and in 2008 he did it.Mariposa Road is the story of Pyle's Butterfly Big Year, in which he travels the United States (including Hawaii and Alaska) with the goal of seeing at least 500 different species of butterflies.On the way he is assisted by numerous butterfly lovers who support his goals, and by any number of regular citizens whose many kindnesses he documents.Does he succeed in reaching the magic 500?You'll have to read the book to find out, but if you care, you're missing the point -- Pyle's real goal is to celebrate the love of nature and butterflies: his own, and in general.

This book recalls Pyle's picaresque classic Chasing Monarchs: Migrating with the Butterflies of Passage, in which Pyle wrote of his adventures trailing the monarch butterfly's annual migration from north to south.There as here, his gentle observations about the people and places along the way and his low-budget travel (mostly with the same decades-old Honda Civic) blend with enthusiastic descriptions of his time in the field and the lovely insects he finds there.But at over 500 pages, Mariposa Road is a lot longer than Chasing Monarchs.While both books are basically chronological accounts of various events that happen until the end point is reached, but Chasing Monarchs seemed pleasingly digressive and as Mariposa Road goes on, the same charming style begins to make the book seem shapeless.My suggestion, therefore, is not to skip the book -- it'd be a hell of a shame to miss Pyle's quietly poetic language, clever observation, and infectious enthusiasm -- but to break it up a bit.Pyle himself separates the book into "rays" -- sections based on individual expeditions he makes during the Big Year -- anywhere from ten to fifty pages long.I think I'd have enjoyed this book more if I'd followed his example and read one "ray" at a time in between other short books.

Of course, I'm not really the intended audience for this book, as I am not a butterfly fancier and read Pyle's work mostly for the travelogue aspect.My enjoyment of his work -- and I've never found a Pyle book that wasn't worth reading; the man's a wonderful writer -- would probably triple or quadruple if I were a naturalist or lepidopterist.Those of you who read his work more for that than for the travelogue, and I hope you know who you are, will be as absorbed reading this book as Pyle clearly was when he experienced it, and you'll likely be able to read it straight through and love it.For the rest of us, time spent with Pyle is always worthwhile, but I suggest taking his book in small bites.

I loved it, but you may not...
Robert Michael Pyle outlines his butterfly seeking journey in Mariposa Road. Unfortunately, it takes Mr. Pyle quite some time (with a fair amount of mishaps along the way) to conquer & find the treasures he is seeking. What redeemed him for me was his eccentricity, his love of his old car (he names his car & butterfly equipment) and has a delighful & charming sense of humor along the way. Yet it can be frustrating when he talks about various plants by their Latin names, as I had no idea what he was talking about most of the time. He relishes the scientific butterfly names...yet I believe he gets quite carried away in using scientific names for other things (plants, trees, etc.). If that is your cup of tea...you'll enjoy this book. It's really for what one would call a "Butterfly Geek". His beloved wife also shares his fascination. If he wasn't good at spinning a tale, I would not have made it through 500 pages. This book is really written for other butterfly enthusiasts rather than the average person with very little knowledge of Pyle's craft. He also travels in an extremely rustic manner that may not appeal to most. I was attracted to the book because it was about butterflies & travel...two things I adore. Well, if sleeping in one's car is your idea of total travel fun, this book is for you! 4 stars given because he is obviously a seasoned writer and was quite entertaining in his own way...

I don't think I like butterflies _this_ much
First off, I do like butterflies. I like them in the kind of "let's plant milkweed in the backyard for the Monarchs" or taking photos of them. I'm just not that into butterflies.
Robert Michael Pyle is a lepidopterist, a man who studies butterflies. And I mean really studies them, not somebody like me who says "hey that's cool". Dr Pyle decided to make an adventure of seeing all the species of butterflies that live in the United States. As you probably know, butterflies do not have long life spans,so to attempt this trip seems impossible to me.
But again, I am not as dedicated as Dr Pyle. Dr Pyle writes in a diary style, just short entries about what he sees and the people he meets. It's interesting, but I wanted some pictures or photos. Dr Pyle uses the scientific name for all the butterflies, so I don't get a clear picture of what butterfly he has mentioned. I felt that was a distraction to me, but maybe if I was more educated in butterflies, I might enjoy it better.
I recommend this book if you want to see a naturalist doing what he does best, describing all the various forms of life. If you want to learn about butterflies, I suggest another book. But if you just want to spend some time in the company of a man who is really passionate about his work, read this book. For me, it was just too much information.






I

Not a Trip For the Novice
I blame the back cover copy."Part road-trip tale, part travelogue of lost and found landscapes, all good-natured natural history," it says.None of this suggested to me I'd need a ton of knowledge already about lepidoptery, botany, and geography to get the most out of it.Nearly all I know about butterflies is that they are beautiful, and that I spent one hot Indiana summer chasing them through fields of wild thistle.A natural history would teach me more, right?It would be fun to learn.I like road trip stories.This sounded like a great book.

As you can tell by my star rating, it wasn't quite what I expected.A seasoned lepidopterist would probably get a three-star read out of this, maybe a four-star--maybe.Someone with casual interest is more likely to get lost in a sea of Latin and common names for butterflies and plants, many with little to no description attached.Mr. Pyle says early on that his mission during this Big Year was to appreciate every butterfly rather than see them as marks to tally. I believe him, and I believe he relished each species he encountered, but in his book too many are no more than names.Offhand references, here and gone.From his joy in the places he visits I gather they're intensely beautiful--would that he'd put me in those places with him by describing them better.

You may find Mr. Pyle a more genial travel companion if your politics, prejudices, and biases are in line with his.The non sequitur jabs and sneers get pretty wearing otherwise.Nor is it enough for him to rejoice in nature; he has to scorn people who prefer city life in the same breath.I wish he'd left that baggage at home.

At half the length _Mariposa Road_ would still be a fair, sometimes-entertaining book--there are good bits, like Mr. Pyle's time in Alaska or his New Year's Eve in the Florida Keys.Even the amateur can learn things here and there.When Mr. Pyle gets into history, such as who Fred Thorne was and why a hairstreak is named after him, it's interesting stuff.Unfortunately it's not half the length; it's over five hundred pages.That's what kills it.The better parts are diluted.One meadow, one mountaintop starts to sound like another, not helped at all by the description issue.Meanwhile the annoying elements get more page time:in the last third Mr. Pyle's contempt for city life hits a higher gear.'Pretentious malls,' 'ignoble book barns,' bah.

In terms of telling a good story, the butterfly quest and the road trip seem to get in each other's way, really.There's so much space spent on minutiae of travel, there's not enough left for butterflies; the endless drive for butterflies means little human interaction, and instead of personalities we often get a mention of what so-and-so has done for natural science. Memorable butterflies, moments, and people get lost.If you do pick this up you should flip to the Afterword, for a couple of links Mr. Pyle mentions there:he wrote two blogs during his Big Year and the one I checked out included some pictures.If I'd had that blog at hand from the start I surely would've enjoyed the book more.

I wouldn't recommend this book to the casual admirer of butterflies or the travelogue reader.I don't know that I'd recommend purchasing it to anyone, but Mr. Pyle has written other books, and has fans of his own, and people particularly interested in both butterflies and him would find things to like.If you want an introduction to Mr. Pyle and his work, I suspect another book of his would be the place to start--likewise, there've got to be better ways to get to know butterflies. ... Read more

Product Description
Prilla just can't say no. When Nettle asks her to join in on caterpillar sheering for the second day in a row, Prilla tells a little white lie—she prefers butterflies to caterpillars. Then all the butterfly-herding talent fairies come down with a case of fairy pox, and because of her "love of butterflies," Prilla is asked to help out. But butterfly-herding is a lot harder than it sounds. Butterflies are downright mischievous, making Prilla's life perfectly miserable. Is it time for Prilla to 'fess up?

"A charming tale about finding faith in oneself." —Discovery Girls ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

A 4th Grade Student Review
Prilla and the Butterfly Lie is a great book about Prilla who told a lie about butterflies. If you want to find out how the lie started you will have to read the book. I gave this book 4 stars because it had a little adventure that I enjoyed but it didn't always keep my interest and it took me awhile to read the whole thing. ~stardust

Fairies
Love the whole collection...Own 'em all and keeping on collecting.Tinker Bell fans should definitely check it out.

Love Tinkerbell
I love these books because they help give more about Tinkerbell, my all time favorite disney character. You have to have an open mind when reading these books, as they are a whole different side of what we have come to know about this little sassy fairy. But my niece and I love to read them together, and these books have helped us create a stronger, more unique bond.

This Clumsy's Favorite Fairy
This one was cute. I Prilla is she a fairy with the talent of blinking to the clumsies (humans) mainland and playing with child. This talent keeps the fairies alive because it keeps the belief of fairies alive. I wish there was a little more of her using her talent because I think it cute when she plays with the kids. It had a pretty good lesson at the end too.

a lovely story
My girls (3 and 4) LOVE these fairy books - my 4 year old reads them over and over and both love for me to read them out loud! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

It was exactly as stated on line.
The book was in tip top shape and was delivered only a few days after I ordered it.Would definitely order from this vendor again.

A FABULOUS book in a FABULOUS series
Florida's Fabulous Butterflies [FLORIDAS FABULOUS BUTTERFLIES] [Paperback] is my very favorite of the incredible Fabulous Florida nature series.As an avid butterfly gardener this is one of my most invaluable butterfly books.As a Floridian and an enthusiast for Florida's natural world this is one of my favorite nature guides.

This beautiful book helps me identify the butterflies that visit my garden; explains in exquisitely photographed detail the life cycle of butterflies and moths; provides helpful hints for butterfly gardening and attracting butterflies; entertains and instructs withmany interesting tidbits of information.

These books are absolutely beautiful!The pages are high quality glossy and while the books themselves are too large to be practical as field guides, they do provide everything, and I do mean everything, one could possibly wish to know about each subject.Every page is loaded with stunning full color photographs as well as many interesting and curious side notes.One can spend many hours exploring the contents of these truly fabulous books.

Florida's Fabulous Butterflies [FLORIDAS FABULOUS BUTTERFLIES] [Paperback] includes all of the Whites & Sulphurs, Gossamer-winged Butterflies, Snout Butterflies, Brush-footed Butterflies, Satyrs & Wood Nymphs, Milkweed Butterflies, Skippers and Swallowtails as well as the more notable of Florida Moths.

I highly recommend this and the entire Fabulous Florida nature series.Every Floridian should have these remarkable books on their bookshelves.

Everybody's in there!
If you plant 'butterfly bushes' they will come.When all the varieties arrive, you'll wonder what you are looking at.This book has great pictures of all the butterflies as well as interesting information to learn from.Nicely written and photographed.

Beautiful photos and detailed information
This is the best butterfly book out there.It shows detailed photos of both adult and catepillar stage of almost every Florida butterfly.

Best Butterfly Book Ever
I would like to say that I am extremely happy with this book.This book has taught me that moths are beautiful too. The pictures are huge and are printed on extremely high quality glossy paper.I would recommend this book to all butterfly lovers no matter where you live.The cost is so inexpensive for such an excellent book. ... Read more

Product Description
Amazing facts about butterflies are revealed in this alphabet book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Gorgeous book
My niece and I love Jerry Pallotta's books, and this one is no exception.The illustrations are gorgeous, the text is wonderful and educational, and my niece's enthusiasm about the this book tells me that it will quickly become one of her favorite books at story time.

Butterfly Alphabet
This book is used as part of a curriuculm that links science, literacy and museum exploration. It has proven to be a valuable addition.

Beautifully illustrated--and informative!
This book is not only gorgeous to look at but also informative in a very non-didactic way.Highly recommended.

Great book, from a great author!
I just adore the books from this author, but this butterfly book is a "must have" in your child's library collection.We look at this book constantly while we sit on our back porch admiring our own butterflies.The book has taught my daughters so much!

A Fun Interesting Book!
This is another great alphabet book by Jerry Pallota.Who else could make an alphabet book series more interesting than he could?I learn something new everytime. ... Read more

Product Description
Beauty has a price…From her first high-heeled step onto a Paris runway, supermodel Seneca Houston has been a sensation. Ever since, she's been surrounded by couture clothes, glittering celebrities—and the constant glare of the paparazzi. She's become muse to designer Luis Navarro, who christens her Butterfly. Now, at thirty-three, Seneca wants the only thing that seems out of reach—a husband, children and a normal life.

When her agent offers his secluded villa as a hideaway, Seneca finds both tranquillity and Dr. Eliot Rollins, a renowned plastic surgeon who is quickly captivated by the intelligent woman behind the breathtaking face. But when Seneca decides to retire from modeling, there are repercussions she never expected. Some people want Butterfly to stay trapped in the spotlight, even if it destroys her. Surrounded by tabloid scandal, grasping relatives and friends with hidden agendas, Seneca wonders if anything can be trusted—even her own heart…. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Rock The Runway
Blessed with an undeniable beauty, Seneca Houston was destined to become a supermodel.Born to wealthy parents who want the best education for their children, her relationship with her mother was not the best.Her mom's college career and future were dramatically changed when she discovered she was pregnant with Seneca.Needless to say, she does not support her daughter's decision to forego her education for a modeling career and she's very vocal about it.

Seneca experiences great fame and ultimate opportunities globally as a model and quickly rises to the status of a supermodel.As a result, her personal relationships are not as successful.She loses friends, family members and lovers on her rise to the top.After evaluating her life and all her sacrifices, she makes life changing decisions regarding her career, family and romance.

BUTTERFLY starts out strong, as we are introduced to Seneca Houston at the beginning of her career, but shortly thereafter, it gets rushed and muddled.It seems Alers spent a lot of time setting the story up but failed in the development throughout the course of the tale.I had a problem warming up to Seneca's character who was too self-involved and quick to dismiss a situation based on what she thought instead of communicating with the person she had an issue with.And it seemed the author placed too much emphasis on Seneca's beauty without showing her compassionate and personable side.The ending, which seemed to be the story line that needed the most development and could have carried the novel, was compacted in a few short pages.


Reviewed by Paula Henderson
of the RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers

BORING!
This book was by far the WORST book I have ever read by Rochelle Alers and I have read and enjoyed a lot of her books. Butterfly was not a likable character, there were no other interesting characters and NO good story line. The book was too long and it was just boring and uninteresting. I only finished it because I kept hoping it would get better and it never did. I was very disappointed with this book and would not reccomend it to anyone!

Butterfly
I really enjoyed this book.It captured my attention. I can relate to some of the things that happened to Seneca.You find out who your true friends are and your family can hurt you the most.I would reccomend thisbook to anyone.I found it to be easy to follow and enjoyed it completely.

The Butterfly
Great book! It was a change from Mrs. Alers other works in someways but I loved it the same. Mrs. Alers always keeps me intrigued with her gifted way of story telling.

Butterfly
Although I did like this story and I don't feel that Seneca was portrayed as a weak woman at all I have to agree with the other reviewers in by saying that there was too much time spent building the back story and a relationship that had Seneca finally finding love then in twenty pages until then in she meets the doctor and falls in love felt like the end was forced. ... Read more

Product Description
Hi, I'm Phoebe, one of the kids in Ms. Frizzle's class. When we started our unit on butterflies, I figured I would get to see a live butterfly - but I never thought I would get to be one. But when Ms. Frizzle took us on our butterfly field trip, she accidentally turned us all into butterflies! But being a butterfly wasn't all fun and games. We had to battle all kinds of things: wind, birds, even people! We knew we had to win this Butterfly Battle -- before things got carried away! ... Read more

Product Description

Butterflies

There are 20,000 different kinds of butterflies in the world. Many have brightly colored wings. But butterflies don't start life as beauties. Every butterfly begins as a tiny egg that hatches into a caterpillar. Then an amazing change takes place. The caterpillar turns into a fluttering butterfly!

Customer Reviews (1)

Good info, interesting inclusion
The butterfly info presented in this book was great.The pictures are engaging.I used this book with several others on a unit about butterflies and insects.

As a head's up, this series includes mini-biographies about scientists, not necessarily related to the topic at hand.They appear in little boxes on a random page in the book.In this book, the person featured is Charles Darwin.I pre-screen my books anyway, but I was surprised to find a feature on Darwin in a butterfly book.I do teach my children about various theories, as well as the truth about creationism, but I wasn't expecting to have to address this during a butterfly book.I would prefer that the biographies relate to the topic at hand instead of coming out of left field. ... Read more

Product Description

Paint a World of Beautiful Butterflies

Delicate, majestic and diverse, the butterfly is an eternal source of inspiration and wonder. Now you can learn to capture the radiant beauty and delicate details of the world’s most spectacular butterfly species in glowing oil paintings. Renowned artist and teacher Sherry C. Nelson takes you on a global expedition featuring more than 50 captivating butterflies for you to paint, study and admire—all in an easy-to-use reference-book format.

You can do it! Sherry makes painting butterflies achievable with simple steps, visual examples, and clear instructions. Starting with the basics, you’ll learn how to transfer designs, select and mix colors, and create a range of harmonious backgrounds. Next, Sherry guides you from start to finish through 54 step-by-step demonstrations for painting butterflies, moths and flowers of all sizes, shapes and colors.

Each butterfly is painted in a vignette featuring flowers and foliage that are part of its native habitat or food source. Sherry also includes crisp reference photos and traceable line drawings that allow you to paint the demos exactly as they are, or you can incorporate them into your own paintings of the natural world. The creative possibilities are up to you. With this guide, you can capture your most beloved butterflies with skill and satisfaction. No net required!

www.artistsnetwork.com

Ideas. Instruction. Inspiration.

Customer Reviews (4)

Butterflies & Blooms
This is a very good and informative book for painting butterflies.The vendor shipped this book very fast.Would buy from them again.

A lovely step-by-step process packed with visual examples and basic directions
Painting Butterflies & Blooms offers a lovely step-by-step process packed with visual examples and basic directions for transferring designs and painting butterflies, flowers and moths of all colors and sizes. Each butterfly is painted showing foliage part of its native habitat and reference photos and design specs abound, making this a top presentation.

Disappointed in the layout of the book - not the content
I have purchased quite a few of Sherry Nelson's other books and found them excellent. This book I found disappointing. The diagrams of the intricate parts of the butterfly body and wing might have been fine for a butterfly anatomy class - but not an art painting book. But I could have ignored that if, on each instruction page, they had put a straight line from the part of the butterfly wing or butterfly body the author was referring to and the text describing how to paint that area.

Unfortunately, they did not do that! Instead, the reader was expected to thumb back to the labeled butterfly diagram in the front of the book, just so you could understand each painting instruction. That was a total turn off for me. I was also disappointed on the size of the butterfly images inside the book. Had they been larger it would have been a lot easier to follow the instructions on how to paint that area. I have enormous respect for Sherry Nelson as an artist and a teacher. I think it is a shame the book was laid out in a way that was not what I would call 'user-friendly'

Appreciating and understandingnature
If you love butterflies and flowers, you will love this book. Sherry will show you how to paint,using easy to understand demos,explaining in detail how to achieve satisfying results.Identifying the different species up-close will bring the reader a better understanding of these lovely creatures. You will agree that her years of painting experience and study of nature has made her an expert because Sherry always goes beyond the obvious. This is a beautiful reference and instuctional manual.







... Read more

Product Description
Lilah Belle has always been a trifle odd to folks in her tiny town of Lucasville; a "singer who didn't sing no more," Lilah is prone to dancing in the streets, dressing outlandishly and weaving fantastic stories. But when her beloved brother dies suddenly, Lilah's grief sends her into a topsy turvy tailspin. Desperate to escape her painful new reality, she hits the road with the unlikeliest of travelling companions: Rose Johnson, a newcomer whose scandalous behavior in the small, sleepy town has branded her a scarlet woman. Anxious to escape their bleak realities, the women strike out in a stolen vintage pickup truck, barreling toward a fated encounter with the mythical, magical Lazarus of the Butterflies. Legend has it that Lazarus can "heal you and make your dreams come true." The adventure that unfolds will transform their destinies, binding Lilah and Rose together forever. Richly evocative, Butterfly Rising is a timeless tale of friendship and courage, etched with pain and joy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Really enjoyed, Read it twice!
I really enjoyed this book, so much that I read it twice!

I was drawn to the settings described for each location. It made it easy for me to get inside the scene and experience it along with the characters; which brings me to my favorite part about the book... the characters.
I could relate to each and every one in some way, even the "Bad Guys."
You'll find yourself rooting for the underdog and loving the journey.

Anyone who loves a positive, uplifting book will love "Butterfly Rising."

I totally loved this book!
Butterfly Rising is a triumph for this first time novelist. The book and its delightful characters come alive with each turn of the page. They engage you with their antics and emotions and you cannot help but want to know more, to see more, and to experience more. I cheered! I laughed! I cried! Thank you for sharing the rising of these wonderful butterflies!

Compelling story!
Butterfly Rising is a wonderful read! The characters grow, change and transform just like the life cycle of a butterfly. The imagery throughout the book was tight as the story unfolded about these two women and the people who were in their lives. While tragedy and adversity surround these main characters, there is growth and strength in relationships they have with one another and with others. There is a positive energy that lies within the characters and made me root for them. As I read the book, I was compelled to know more of what happened to them! I couldn't put the book down! I hope that there will be a sequel about Rose and Lilah's daughters to keep the life cycle growing.

A wonderful read!
This was a great book that was very engaging from page one...the main characters, though they are two very different women, are at the same time very similar to each other in certain ways, and throughout the book that play of contrast/similarities was very engaging...their adventures together made this a real page-turner. I can only hope that there is a sequel!
(also, I enjoyed this book so much that I bought a copy for my best friend!)

A beautifully written, gripping story about two women in search of a second chance
Tanya Wright's debut novel is a far-cry from what her fans would expect on HBO's True Blood. There are no vampires or werewolves, but there are two amazing, compelling women who form a lifelong bond born initially out of the grief and despair. Tanya takes us through their lives in a way that we feel as if we're on the journey with them. Lilah Belle and Rose become a part of us through the pages and stay with us long after we finish the novel. We want to know these women. In fact, we do know them as their story represents many of us. If you liked Sue Monk's The Secret Life of Bees, then you'll love Butterfly Rising. ... Read more

Product Description
A world-renowned nature photographer presents photographsof butterflies from throughout the world, using close-up views of wingdesigns that look like letters of the alphabet.Amazon.com Review
"One day many years ago, as I was looking through a microscope at a tropical moth, to my surprise I noticed a tiny, perfect letter F hidden onthe wing. I was astounded and wondered if I could find other letters.Perhaps I could even find the entire alphabet in the wings of butterfliesand moths! I decided that I was going to be the first to try."

So wrote Kjell B. Sandved in his introduction to The ButterflyAlphabet. Little did he know that it would take him more than 25 years,with visits to more than 30 countries, to discover and photograph all theletters of the alphabet in butterfly wings. This glorious book is the fruitof his labors. On each spread, you'll find a picture of the whole butterflyor moth and its common name, with a full-page, full-color close-up on the adjacent page of theletter on the creature's tiny wing scales. A gentlepoem accompanies the flight from A to Z as well: "On wings aloft across theskies-- / An alphabet of butterflies. / Each butterfly insecret brings / A letter hidden in its wings." A few butterfly basics and aglossary of the species featured in the book close this fascinating,loving, photographic ode to the order Lepidoptera. (Ages 4 to 104)--Karin Snelson ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

An Unusual Book for Butterfly Lovers
In this unusual book, the author presents a different butterfly or moth for each letter of the alphabet in a two-page spread.On the first of each page, the whole insect is presented by name in a small photograph, with a selected letter and a rhyming couplet; on the facing page is a close-up section of its wing, in which the letter's shape may be traced.The book ends with a few pages about the habits and characteristics of butterflies, as well as a more detailed description of each moth and butterfly featured in the book.

The book might provide some supplementary practice for young children learning the alphabet, but some of the letters are actually difficult to find in the wing patterns, and in a few examples it is difficult to see how the close-up image matches the insect on the facing page (it's likely that different individual insects from the same species were used for the two photographs).This might create frustration for readers who don't already know their letters; but for slightly older children, the exercise of finding familiar letters in the beautiful close-up photos will sharpen their observational skills, while providing them with a close-up view of these creatures.This will benefit all readers, but may be best appreciated by an audience which has some access to real butterflies, either in a butterfly garden or in an outdoor ramble.

Gorgeous!
My 7-yr old son and I enjoyed this book very much. We had fun trying to find the detailed image in the full photo image - fabulous. And the poetry is very nice as well. Eye candy!

delightful
This is a delightful book with scientific information about the butterflies as well as a beautiful poem and close up photos of the letters of the alphabet on the butterflies' wings. Check out the author's posters, as well.

Much more than an alphabet book; truly for butterfly lovers
I first thought this book was an alphabet book for young children, such as to help teach them the alphabet. This is more like a book that would be kept on a coffee table by an adult that adores butterflies. I still love it despite my misconception!

This is an amazing work. The author is actually a nature photographer who accidentially noticed that some patterns on butterfly's wings are shaped like letters of the English alphabet while looking at the wings under a microscope. He then took very close photographs of the "letters". He then went around the world hoping to find each of the 26 letters in our alphabet; this journey took 25 years. Now that is a labor of love!

The end result is this: on the left side of the page is a full color photo of the entire butterfly. One sentence describing butterflies with one of the words beginning with that letter of the alphabet is written in very poetic language that would be most appreciated by adults or anyone who enjoys poetry. Note that the featured letter is written in capital only and in script style so this is of no use to preschoolers who need to see both capital and lower case letters in PRINT. The name of the butterfly is then given. On the right side of the page is a huge photograph of the close up that shows the pattern on the wings that looks just like the featured letter of the alphabet.

Incredible! Interesting!

This would be of interest to anyone who is interested in butterflies. Possibly a good tool to show when introducing microscopes and what they can reveal and also when teaching about butterflies and science/nature.

A wonderful Butterfly Book!
This book is truely a great book for kids.Not only is it educational but it is also fun.Kids can try to find the letters that are hidden in the butterflys wings.They can take that and use it when they see butterflys around the yard.I'm an elementary education major in college and I woulddefinitely use this in my future classroom for a unit on butterflys, andalso just as a fun book. In the back of the book information is provided onall the butterflys and moths that are in the book. ... Read more

Product Description
Featuring redesigned jackets, interiors, and up-to-date vocabulary throughout, DK Readers now have a fresh new look! In Born to Be a Butterfly readers can follow the life cycle of a caterpillar as it transforms into a beautiful butterfly. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Great gift for 6 year old grandson
I bought several titles from this series for my 6 year old grandson who loves science and they were right on target. Great pictures and text... very interesting and informative.

Mom
My toddler loves butterflies.We enjoy the DK series and this does not disappoint.It is simply read, has great photos, easy to pack and take along.I'm sure we'll get more use out of it in the future as well.

Great butterfly info for early readers
The information in Born to be a Butterfly is easy to read and the pictures are crisp, colorful and catches the eye, which draws the reader in. Our household typically loves to read DK books because the pictures are very interesting.My small complaint about Born to be a Butterfly (and also pre-level 1 DK reader "On the Move.") is that some of the photos are across both pages.The crease in the middle makes it difficult to see the whole image in a few cases.A good example is on pages 18-19,where the picture of a chrysalis is in the middle of both pages, cut up by the page crease. It is a small complaint, because the text for born to be a butterfly is great and the pictures are fantastic.

Great pictures.
The pictures in this book are clear and up close.You can really see the butterfly's probiscus and other details.It's a great book for the budding scientist or a pre-school/kindergarten classroom.

Born to be Beautiful
I have always thought that the transformation from caterpillar to butterfly is just amazing. In this story, a butterfly flits from flower to flower and looks for a leaf where she can lay her eggs. The photography is stunning and you can actually see the caterpillar growing inside the egg. Once the caterpillar hatches, she eats and eats and eats.

As the caterpillar gets bigger and bigger, she sheds her skin until finally she looks for a sturdy leaf and hangs upside down. The outside skin turns hard and inside, she is turning into a beautiful creature. One day the chrysalis splits open and a new butterfly emerges to dry in the sunshine.

On the last page, there is a picture word list and your child can sign and date the back cover to remind them of their accomplishment when they are able to completely read this book on their own.

Educational!

~The Rebecca Review ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Incredible, always brings tears to my eyes
I performed this play in this year (9th grade) at my high school. When i read it for auditions, i loved it, I did get teary eyed reading it. I auditioned and i got the part of Pavel (Raja's rebellious brother). We had a month of rehearsals, and the opening night came along. I soon realized the power of the show, it is increasingly effective, and i cired more than once when I was able to see the show. It is an amazing play that I love to read, and it will always brings tears my eyes. I have been in 4 shows (Grease, You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, Over the River and Through the Woods, and this) Butterfly is my favorite, hands down. Buy it, you'll love it

So Moving!
This play reminds me of my senior year in high school. Our drama club performed this play for OAP. District Champs! I played the father. I loved this play!

Simply an amazing play...
I was lucky enough to perform this play in a competition in 1999. I was Raja. It has inspired me to no end! I have been told by people who saw our competition just how amazing this play is. And it's true. It will move you to tears, knowing that what is being said, are real words written by real people who lived this horrible life forced upon them. Kudos to the playwright!

Since 1981...
I performed in this play in Northeastern Iowa (of all places!) when I was just 8 years old, and have repeatedly told people over the course of my life how moving the play is, and how it affected me as a child. My mother was also in the play and was careful to explain to me how important the story was. In college I searched in vain for a copy of this play to perform a scene for an acting class. I guess my review is this - after 22 years this play is still with me.

I could go on and on.....
This play is a wonderful thing. It really opened my eyes as to what happened to these poor children. Our audience was silent when we finished with opening night (last night) and I was crying. I have never experienced anything like it. I have never been so moved by words and actions. This play has changed me in a subtle way, and I thank my director for choosing it. To play someone who actually lived is a very moving experience, especially when you know what they went through in order to have a play written about them and many books too. I love this play, and will never forget the wonderful experience I've had. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (12)

Good for Massachusetts
I bought this for my nephew living in Massachusetts.It is an indispensable guide for butterfly watching on the East coast.

Georgeous Book
Georgeous Book!This is a beautiful and informative book.If you live on the East Coast it is a must have for the butterfly observer.

butterflies of the east coast
This book is excellent for butterfly identification. It uses great pictures as well as other useful data to aid in butterfly identification.

Perhaps best nature guidebook ever!
This book (Cech and Tudor) is perhaps the best nature guidebook ever, definitely the best butterfly or insect book.It is a beautifully illustrated guide to the animals and their natural habitats on the east coast, where I live.It covers most butterflies for the central U. S. and eastern Canada as well, and similar coverage for Texas (with the greatest diversity of all) and the west coast would be great if they could do this project as well.

Butterflies of the East Coast
This is a very informative book and will help you identify butterflies and learn about their habbitats and habits. Not a pocket or field guide, mostly a coffee table book. Very pretty pictures and again a great learning tool! ... Read more

Product Description
For an eighth grader, Molly Williams has more than her fair share of problems. Her father has just died in a car accident, and her mother has become a withdrawn, quiet version of herself.

Molly doesn’t want to be seen as “Miss Difficulty Overcome”; she wants to make herself known to the kids at school for something other than her father’s death. So she decides to join the baseball team. The boys’ baseball team. Her father taught her how to throw a knuckleball, and Molly hopes it’s enough to impress her coaches as well as her new teammates.

Over the course of one baseball season, Molly must figure out how to redefine her relationships to things she loves, loved, and might love: her mother; her brilliant best friend, Celia; her father; her enigmatic and artistic teammate, Lonnie; and of course, baseball.

Mick Cochrane is a professor of English and the Lowery Writer-in-Residence at Canisius College in Buffalo, New York, where he lives with his wife and two sons.


From the Hardcover edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Great YA Read
Molly Williams has made the baseball team. The boys baseball team.She has mastered a unique pitching style that her late father had taught her.Throughout the story, Molly overcomes adversity from her teammates, and her mother, as well as the confusion and grief she has about her father's death.

This story rejuvenated my love for YA Fiction! It holds great messages for young girls about being themselves, respecting parents the don't always agree with, and letting go. I feel like the ending came rather abruptly though, and I didn't feel satisfied with the way some of the conflicts were "solved," but a good read nevertheless.

Cochrane Hits It Out Of The Park With New Release
Mick Cochrane has given readers young and old a book that will transcend all backgrounds and interests. THE GIRL WHO THREW BUTTERFLIES gives us a story that shows how important it is to follow your heart and fulfil your dreams, inspite of the odds against you. Cochrane also gives us a look at a world that many can relate to: a family coping with death, self-discovery and the true meaning of life. This is a book that will resonate with sports lovers and non-sports lovers alike. A real triumph.

Butterflies and Moths
The Girl Who Threw Butterflies Excellent book for almost any reader - outstanding for young girls.

From Butterflies to Knuckleballs
//The Girl Who Threw Butterflies/ is a charming story about an eighth-grade girl who attempts to find her own way after losing her dad in a car accident six months earlier. Her mom is despondent, her teachers treat her differently, and her best friend Celia is right there by her side. She misses her dad who taught her everything about baseball, even how to throw knuckleballs; theirs was a mutual love of the game. Molly soon joins the school's baseball team, quitting girl's softball because she wants to play the real game of baseball.

This story demonstrates the true human spirit when desire overcomes trepidation. The author, Mick Cochrane exemplified his devotion and understanding of baseball in this account of Molly's world, bringing tragedy to victory. He deftly draws the characters in our imaginations with vivid descriptions and crisp detail, and allows the story to predictably, yet eagerly, unfold. A good read for someone coming into their own, or about to!

Reviewed by M. Chris Johnson

A Girl on the Boys' Baseball Team, and a Whole Lot More
I'm not a big baseball fan, but I was drawn in to this book and the story of both a girl's decision to go out for the boys baseball team, and the bond between her and her deceased father. What could have been way too much of a "message" book was actually quite touching as Molly makes the decision completely on her own (her mother doesn't find out until much later), though she does get a little Zen coaching from her quirky best friend.

Cochrane includes bits of baseball history and trivia, such as that female baseball player Jackie Mitchell struck out Babe Ruth, which will appeal to baseball fans, male and female. Molly's relationship with her mom, like many girls her age, is tumultuous, yet grows so by the end of the book each of them understand each other a little better. Molly's a curious, dedicated young woman, and Cochrane lets her story, and her interest in baseball, unfold gradually. She shows a true love of and interest in the game; there were times when I wondered whether she was simply pursuing it to maintain a connection with her father, but she goes beyond what they had, while still channeling him. A moving, at times bittersweet book that will have you cheering on Molly and her knuckleballs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

satisfied
This product was delivered in a timely fashion, arrived in good condition, and was exactly what I expected based on the image and description.

Just as listed
The pocket guide is just as promised, an easily carried introductory guide to the more familiar Costa Rican bird species. Don't expect to get the same information and detail as in a softcover or hardcover book, but the guide appears to be durable and easy to carry in any pocket. The last time we were in Costa Rica we lugged a hardcover birding guide along and got smart this time for our trip down to the Osa Peninsula.

Excellent, lightweight, handy
You get what you buy, and this is as advertised.People that complain about being surprised they aren't holding a 300-page field guide in their hands when they receive this are apparently unable to read the clear description on this page.

Excellent, lightweight, and exactly what it says it is.

Costa Rica is Costa Rica
Costa Rica is not Panama, so it seems an unfortunate yardstick for a reviewer to be upset because this excellent guide for Costa Rica doesn't work in Panama. Duhd!

Being an author of field guides myself, I just had to speak up in defense of this one in the face of a slightly negative review posted here, which is based upon another country's birds!!

It's a laminated brochure of sorts - not a paperback book
Cute little quick-guide thingy. I was expecting a pocket-sized paperback, but this looks like it's going to be 'as handy as a pocket on a shirt.' It's like one of those laminated street maps, but smaller & sparce on information... more of a quick reference for sightings on the fly (so to speak.) ... Read more

Product Description
Change is all around us.

From the first buds of springtime to the first autumn frost, nature shows us that change is all around us and that the world has its own way of beginning anew.

Bird, Butterfly, and Eel spend their summers on the same coastal farm, but in the fall they go to very distant and different places. Their journeys to the far reaches of land and sea make them remarkable creatures. James Prosek uses their stories and his own sun-kissed paintings to introduce young readers to the basic elements of bird, fish, and insect migration. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Excellent!
I really enjoy the artist and the writer. He put a very interesting story together to read to children.

This a beautiful book about the changing seasons and migration!
It's summertime and the cat carefully makes his way along the stone wall on the farm.The eel, the bird and the butterfly are hidden in the landscape.The beautiful monarch is sitting on a flower."She lives in the meadow behind the pond."The eel is just below the surface in "the dark cool waters of the pond."The bullfrog on the lily pad doesn't see him, nor does the black cat.The barn swallow is tending her nest in the barn while the cat peers into the loft from below."She loves being safe, high up in the rafters. . . "

They are all continuing their individual lifestyles from early spring through the summer and into the fall, when it is time for yet another change.It will soon be cold and they will have to leave the farm and begin a long journey to the south.Along the way they will briefly meet other creatures before going on their on paths.Later on in the spring they will return to the farm.

This beautiful book gently takes the reader through the yearly cycle of three creatures often seen on a farm.The artwork is graceful, beautiful and bright when called for and more muted as needed.For example the barn is shadowy and dark, but the ocean scenery has vibrant blue hues.In the back of the book are facts about each creature and tells why they migrate and do not stay on the farm.

another prosek classic
Prosek has an amazing ability to capture nature's magic and wonder. From the endpapers to the carefully considered last spread, Prosek's respect for children and his astonishing skill shines on every page. It is award worthy, and an essential addition to any thinking child's library.

As someone who has been around kid's and children's media for a long time, this book deserves to be championed and treasured.

Beautiful
What a nice way of talking about the changing of the seasons and the life cycles of each of the creatures. The pictures are beautiful.My grandchildren (age 4 & 18 months) love this book.


... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Caterpillars and butterflies
I bought this book for my grandaughter and she loved it. It helped her find what kind of butterflies would come out of her caterpillars. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (4)

a wonderful addition to our library.
I love this poetry book. I bought it because it won the Cybil award for best poetry for children. And I am so pleased with it. The poetry is clever, the illustrations are beautiful, and the text is educational.

A gorgeous unique children's poetry book...
This is a stunning poetry book for children. Kids often shy away from poetry because it can seem vague and inaccessible but the author draws the reader in by making each poem a riddle/guessing game.She gives descriptive clues about the animals and insects of the meadow and then concludes by asking, "What am I?" or "Who is he?" etc.The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous, stunning really.They are made by the scratchboard technique to produce rich deep colors with intense yet simple detail.This is a beautiful book, quite unlike anything else I've seen.

"Touches each clear gem with its sidelong gaze"
I don't mean to jump the gun here, but if we happen to be in need of a future Children's Poet Laureate once Mr. Prelutsky concedes the throne, I would like to nominate one Ms. Joyce Sidman for the honor.I can't really consider myself to be any kind of expert on the form, mind you.Poems seem nice enough, but they very rarely wow me.If something rhymes that's cool, but I'm a lackadaisical poetry lover at best.It really takes something with a bit of punch to wake me out of my anti-poetic malaise, and that something (more often than not) is Ms. Sidman.Her acquisition of a much coveted Caldecott Honor for, "Songs of the Water Boatman and Other Pond Poems", may have struck some as out of left field, but for anyone familiar with her work there could be no surprise.Now she's followed up that hit with yet another.Taking the purportedly incompatible notions of science and verse, Ms. Sidman weaves the two together so seamlessly that the reader is left completely unaware of the fact that this poetry book is (gasp, shudder) TEACHING them something.Not for the faint of heart, to say the least.

Sixteen poems describe the multitude of meadow denizens that stake a claim in that particular kind of land.Each poem describes a creature, though it's up to the reader to guess that animal/plant/insect's identity.Two pages of poetry showing a hint of the thing being described lead into two more pages of factual information.For example, you might read that, "We tumble / we twitter / we dip / float / and flitter", but when you turn the page you'll find information telling you how goldfinches (the answer) are "extremely social birds, flocking together not only during migration but also all year long."Some poems are funny, some are mysterious, and most leave you ah-hankerin' for more.At the end kids will also find a Glossary of those terms that might have escaped their comprehension earlier in the book.

The writing is, as always, magnificent.My favorite poem out of the bunch is, "An Apology To My Prey", which contains such lines as "And my wings: I regret their slotted tips / that allow such explosive thrust / their span that gathers wind / effortlessly, and of course their / deadly, folding dive."Sometimes when I meet with the homeschooler bookgroup that I run, I do a poetry unit with them for kicks.Hearing the kids say lines like, "a golden sickle poised over / your soft, helpless heart" or "seeking, as they do, that final grip", is something I look forward to.Ever confusing the issue, Sidman never plays it safe.She could have just kept her poems within the same ABAB rhyme scheme and no one would have given it a second thought.If I have any objection with the book it is the mildest wish that perhaps maybe there could have been a brief explanation of the types of poems found in the story.What is the name of a poem where the words themselves make the shape of the animal being discussed (as is done with, "Don't I Look Delicious?") or those read in two voices (as with "Sap Song")?Looks like teachers will have some work on their hands using this book in their poetry unit.Time to break out Paul B. Janeczko's, "A Kick In the Head" for defining the right forms.

I was a little surprised to find that that illustrator on this project was not Beckie Prange (as she was on "Song of the Water Boatman") but rather the somewhat similar Beth Krommes.Where Prange worked in woodcuts, however, Krommes prefers the scratchboard technique.It's rather enthralling.More to the point, I personally feel that the switch to Krommes was a good move on the publisher's part.In "Song of the Water Boatman" Prange did a nice job, but the illustrations felt almost a little too straightforward.They were entirely accurate, but (sorry, guys) kinda dull.Prange limited her color palate, and the result was a perfectly nice if not particularly thrilling series of pages.Krommes, in contrast, isn't afraid to liven things up a little.Her image of gathering dew shows tiny blue circles clustering close under a purple sky filled with variegated stars.The meadow is alive here, encompassing vast fields, or a single eye of a buttefly as needs be.There are also two panoramic views at both the front and the back of the book of the meadow at dawn and at night that demand to be stared at for several full minutes of time.Particularly if that viewer happens to be of the youngish brain-still-growing variety.

Ms. Sidman is, of course, not the only children's poet to tackle scientific notions in a poetic fashion.I would be much amiss not to mention Jon Scieszka's lovely little "Math Curse" and "Science Verse".Still, if kids learn anything from Scieszka's books it more as an afterthought than part of his original intent.And Ms. Sidman, for all that she packs fact after fact into this book, never ends up with a dry as toast school textbook either.She knows exactly how to sift together equal parts information and entertainment.And you know, you can yammer on as long as you want about things like "the circle of life" and how one creature effects another's existence and never make even the slightest dent of an impression on a young person's brain.Far better to just hand a kid this book then.Here we can see how the fox eats the rabbit and the milkweed sustains the butterflies without launching into dull preachiness.This is the cycle expanded and encompassing a wide range of critters big and small.The rare meeting of "interesting" with "faaaaabulous".

A light invitational guide to the outdoors world.
How do creatures perceive nature? What are the hidden worlds they inhabit? It's unusual to see a book of poetry include a healthy dose of science - but that's what makes BUTTERFLY EYES special: kids are invited to survey and understand nature through a blend of poetry and observations of the environment. Beth Krommes' gentle, realistic illustrations accompany a light invitational guide to the outdoors world. ... Read more