It’s no secret that we love reading! Every spring we raise butterflies, and over the years we’ve found the books that go perfectly with a butterfly unit.
This list of butterfly books for kids has fiction and nonfiction picks for toddlers through early elementary, from simple board books to life cycle science.
Teaching Kids About Butterflies
Butterflies have a four-stage life cycle: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis) and adult. Books with clear pictures of each stage make it easy for kids to follow along, especially if you can watch real caterpillars change with a butterfly kit.
Butterflies are also pollinators, helping plants make seeds. Some, like monarchs, migrate thousands of miles. Kids can help them by planting native flowers and milkweed and skipping pesticides.
Butterfly Books for Toddlers and Preschoolers
Butterfly Butterfly: A Book of Colors
Little ones will hover over this colorful look at insect critters as they peek through die-cuts and enjoy a final pop-up surprise. See it on Amazon
I Wish I Were a Butterfly
An adorable story about seeing the gifts in others, and being happy with your own. See it on Amazon
Butterfly Colors and Counting
Kids will learn to count to ten along with the colors of the rainbow in this lovely book for the smallest butterfly lovers. See it on Amazon
The Creepy, Crawly Caterpillar
Simple board book with catchy rhymes that tells the story of the life cycle of a butterfly from egg to adult. See it on Amazon
Are You a Butterfly?
Caterpillar, chrysalis, butterfly; follow the metamorphosis of this familiar backyard creature as it evolves into a delicate flying insect. See it on Amazon
Ten Wriggly Wiggly Caterpillars
Join the bright, bold caterpillars as they travel around the meadow on a sunny day in this fun book that counts down from 10 to 1. See it on Amazon
Ten Little Caterpillars
Ten caterpillars are looking for good places to turn into butterflies. See it on Amazon
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a story about a small caterpillar who hatches from an egg and starts eating everything it sees. See it on Amazon
Butterfly Life Cycle and Nonfiction Books
Becoming Butterflies
This captivating concept book simply and eloquently invites young children to witness and celebrate the cycle of life. See it on Amazon
How to Raise Monarch Butterflies: A Step-by-Step Guide for Kids
This book does a fantastic job explaining what threats Monarchs face today and how readers can help conserve the Monarch’s feeding grounds from encroachment. See it on Amazon
Butterflies in the Garden
This beautiful book teaches kids how to lure butterflies into their garden! See it on Amazon
A Butterfly’s Life
Kids will follow along as the narrator observes the butterflies’ behavior up close, including the amazing metamorphosis of caterpillars into adult Monarch butterflies and their migration to Mexico. See it on Amazon
From Caterpillar to Butterfly
A caterpillar comes to school in a jar and the class watches the caterpillar each day as it grows and changes. See it on Amazon
Butterfly or Moth?: How Do You Know?
How can you tell a butterfly from a moth? See it on Amazon
Caterpillars, Bugs and Butterflies: Take-Along Guide
An introduction to the world of insects, caterpillars, and butterflies including identification information, educational activities, and fun facts. See it on Amazon
National Geographic Readers: Great Migrations Butterflies
This book explores the difficult journey butterflies take to fly from the Northern United States and Canada to the Oyamel forest of Mexico. See it on Amazon
National Geographic Readers: Caterpillar to Butterfly
This Level 1 Reader gives kids an up-close look at exactly how a caterpillar becomes a butterfly. See it on Amazon
Waiting for Wings
Every spring, there are lots of different butterflies. See it on Amazon
Monarch Butterfly
Follow the transformation from a tiny white egg laid on a leaf to a brilliantly colored butterfly in this kid-friendly introduction to metamorphosis. See it on Amazon
A Butterfly Is Patient
It takes a long time for a butterfly to grow up. See it on Amazon
The Butterfly Alphabet Book
Learn about these amazing butterflies, and more, as you read from A to Z about a group of the world’s most beautiful insects. See it on Amazon
Butterfly Picture Book Stories
Butterflies Keep Flying
Sometimes, the gentle butterfly imagines what it might be like to be other creatures . See it on Amazon
Summer Birds: The Butterflies of Maria Merian
In the Middle Ages, people believed that insects were evil, born from mud in a process called spontaneous generation. See it on Amazon
Elmer and Butterfly
One day, as Elmer is strolling through the jungle, he hears a cry for help. See it on Amazon
Glasswings: A Butterfly’s Story
Claire, a glasswing butterfly who finds herself lost in the city after being separated from her family. See it on Amazon
Hurry and the Monarch
This beautiful book tells a story about butterflies and their life cycle. See it on Amazon
Gotta Go! Gotta Go!
The creepy-crawly bug doesn’t know why she does what she does. See it on Amazon
La Mariposa
This book is about a school child who has trouble learning language. See it on Amazon
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Butterfly activities to go with the books
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Practice the life cycle hands-on with our butterfly life cycle playdough mats.
Butterfly Books FAQ
Try The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Ten Little Caterpillars, A Butterfly Is Patient and National Geographic Readers: Caterpillar to Butterfly.
Egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis) and adult butterfly.
Waiting for Wings, From Caterpillar to Butterfly and National Geographic Readers: Caterpillar to Butterfly all show each stage.
Plant native flowers and milkweed, avoid pesticides and join citizen science butterfly counts.
More Butterfly Activities
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From families like yours
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