It’s no secret that we love reading! Every year in the spring we have a lot of fun raising butterflies. These are books we have discovered over the years that have complemented a butterfly study unit really well. In this list of children’s books about butterflies, you will find both non-fiction and fiction books that cover toddlers to mid-elementary reading levels.

Teaching Kids about Butterflies
Butterflies are fascinating creatures that can capture the imagination of children and adults alike. Teaching kids about butterflies can be a fun and educational experience that introduces them to the wonders of nature and the importance of conservation efforts. Here are some ideas for teaching kids about butterflies:
The Life Cycle of a Butterfly
The life cycle of a butterfly consists of four stages: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), and adult. You can explain this process to kids by showing them pictures or diagrams and discussing the different characteristics of each stage. You could also use a butterfly kit to observe the different stages of metamorphosis up close.
Interesting Facts about Butterflies
Butterflies play an important role in pollination, which helps plants to reproduce. Some species of butterflies migrate long distances each year, which is a fascinating phenomenon that kids may be interested to learn about. You can also share other interesting facts about butterfly behavior and physiology, such as their ability to see ultraviolet light and their use of camouflage to avoid predators.
Hands-On Activities
There are many hands-on activities that kids can do to learn more about butterflies. For example, you could help them create a butterfly garden by planting native plants that attract butterflies. This will not only help them learn about the plants and animals in their local environment but will also provide a valuable habitat for butterflies and other pollinators. You could also give them the opportunity to observe caterpillars as they grow and transform into butterflies by raising them in a butterfly kit or observing them in their natural habitat.
Butterfly Conservation Efforts
Encouraging kids to get involved in butterfly conservation efforts is an important way to teach them about the importance of protecting the environment. You can encourage them to plant native plants, reduce pesticide use, and participate in citizen science projects that monitor butterfly populations. By doing so, they can play an active role in protecting these beautiful creatures and the habitats they depend on.
Books About Butterflies for 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.

I Wish I Were a Butterfly
An adorable story about seeing the gifts in others, and being happy with your own.

Becoming Butterflies
This captivating concept book simply and eloquently invites young children to witness and celebrate the cycle of life.

Butterflies Keep Flying
Sometimes, the gentle butterfly imagines what it might be like to be other creatures . . . bigger, stronger, louder animals; those who don’t have fragile wings, who don’t have to fly around all day. But when she stops daydreaming and starts thinking about how her wings carry her through life's challenges, the butterfly reminds herself of the incredible strength within her colorful, breakable wings.

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.

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.

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.

Butterflies in the Garden
This beautiful book teaches kids how to lure butterflies into their garden!

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.

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. Maria Merian was only a child, but she disagreed. She watched carefully as caterpillars spun themselves cocoons, which opened to reveal summer birds, or butterflies and moths. Maria studied the whole life cycle of the summer birds, and documented what she learned in vibrant paintings.
This is the story of one young girl who took the time to observe and learn, and in so doing disproved a theory that went all the way back to ancient Greece.

Are You a Butterfly?
Caterpillar, chrysalis, butterfly; follow the metamorphosis of this familiar backyard creature as it evolves into a delicate flying insect.

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. Soon, it disappears into a hard shell called a chrysalis. Where did it go? This is a perfect beginner's guide to the mystery of metamorphosis.

Elmer and Butterfly
One day, as Elmer is strolling through the jungle, he hears a cry for help. A butterfly has been trapped in a hole by a fallen branch. Elmer rushes to the rescue and frees her with ease. In return, she promises to help Elmer should he ever need it. But just how can a butterfly ever help an elephant?

Butterfly or Moth?: How Do You Know?
How can you tell a butterfly from a moth? What is the difference? With colorful photographs and clear language, this book shows young readers how to identify these animals using critical thinking skills.

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.

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.

National Geographic Readers: Caterpillar to Butterfly
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.

Glasswings: A Butterfly’s Story
Claire, a glasswing butterfly who finds herself lost in the city after being separated from her family. She doesn't know how they will ever see her, but she finds new city friends, who search for the flowers Claire needs to live.

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.

Waiting for Wings
Every spring, there are lots of different butterflies. But where do they come from? How are they born? What do they eat, and how? This lovely book follows the life cycle of a butterfly.

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.

A Butterfly Is Patient
It takes a long time for a butterfly to grow up. First it is an egg. Then it grows into a caterpillar. Then it grows into a chrysalis. Finally, it comes out as a beautiful butterfly!

Ten Little Caterpillars
Ten caterpillars are looking for good places to turn into butterflies. Some find good places, but others are not so lucky.

Hurry and the Monarch
This beautiful book tells a story about butterflies and their life cycle. It also tells about their amazing 2,000-mile migration.

Gotta Go! Gotta Go!
The creepy-crawly bug doesn't know why she does what she does. She only knows she has to do it. But making the journey seems impossible for the slow-moving critter, who has no idea what or where Mexico is. Then an everyday miracle occurs, bringing a transformation that will help her fulfill her destiny.

La Mariposa
This book is about a school child who has trouble learning language. It shows that our imaginations can help us a lot. La Mariposa asks us to be kind to each other in our homes, communities, and schools.

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.

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. It gets a stomach ache from eating too much, but then it eats a leaf and turns into a beautiful butterfly.
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These are amazing