Summer Birds: The Butterflies of Maria Merian

 

Author: Margarita Engle
Illustrator:   Julie Paschkis
Publisher:  Henry Holt and Company
Publication Year:   2010
Location: Knox County Public Library- Lawson McGhee

Awards:   Capitol Choices Noteworthy Titles for Children and Teens, Booklist & Kirkus starred reviews

Summary: Told in an engaging first person voice, this is the story of a girl of the Middle Ages who defied conventional wisdom in order to study butterflies. In that time, people believed that they were evil insects born in mud, but Maria did not believe that. She observed caterpillars and realized that they changed into butterflies. She painted what she saw and dreamed of a day where people would understand the life cycles of animals that go through metamorphosis. The folksy gouache paintings perfectly illustrate the world of Merian and the spreads on black backgrounds are especially striking.

Classroom Ideas: classroom study of metamorphosis of caterpillars to butterflies, life cycles, scientists, women pioneers

Extras: a historical note about Maria Merian

In the Small, Small Pond

Author & Illustrator:   Denise Fleming
Publisher:  Henry Holt and Company
Publication Year:   1993
Location: Knox County Public Library- Powell

Awards:   Caldecott Honor

Summary:  This is the story of how a pond comes to life during the spring time as the animals move around. The gorgeous, vibrant illustrations were created by "pouring colored cotton pulp through hand-cut stencils [to create] images set in homemade paper!"

Classroom Ideas: While it only uses a few words, they are masterfully chosen and could easily be used to spur a lesson on word choice. There is also rhyme, rhythm, alliteration, and onomatopoeia. Obviously, it could also be used to teach science and life cycles.