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The Best Children’s Books About Butterflies

“What are the best Children’s books about Butterflys?” We looked at 153 of the top Kids Butterfly books, aggregating and ranking them so we could answer that very question!

The top 19 titles, all appearing on 3 or more “Best Children’s Butterfly” book lists, are ranked below by how many lists they appear on. The remaining 125+ titles, as well as the lists we used are in alphabetical order at the bottom of the page.

Happy Scrolling!



Top 19 Best Children’s Books About Butterflies



19 .) Are You A Butterfly? written by Judy Allen

	Are You A Butterfly?

Lists It Appears On:

  • Goodreads
  • Mommy Evolution
  • Parenting Chaos

Introduces the life cycle of a butterfly, showing how it changes from an egg to a chrysalis to a butterfly.




18 .) Butterflies And Moths written by Nic Bishop

	Butterflies And Moths

Lists It Appears On:

  • Goodreads
  • Parenting Chaos
  • Very Well Family

Describes the life cycle of butterflies, from a tiny egg into a caterpillar, to a metamorphosizing pupa, and finally into a beautiful winged butterfly.




17 .) Butterfly Colors and Counting written by Jerry Pallotta

	Butterfly Colors and Counting

Lists It Appears On:

  • Goodreads
  • Mommy Evolution
  • Parenting Chaos

Count the butterflies from one to ten. Learn their colors, then count again!




16 .) Butterfly House written by Eve Bunting and Greg Shed

	Butterfly House

Lists It Appears On:

  • Barnes And Noble
  • Goodreads
  • Parenting Chaos

With the help of her grandfather, a little girl makes a house for a larva and watches it develop before setting it free, and every summer after that butterflies come to visit her.




15 .) Elmer and Butterfly written by David McKee

	Elmer and Butterfly

Lists It Appears On:

  • Barnes And Noble
  • Goodreads
  • Parenting Chaos

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 – which might be sooner than he thinks.…




14 .) Fancy Nancy: Bonjour, Butterfly written by Jane O’Connor and Robin Preiss Glasser

	Fancy Nancy: Bonjour, Butterfly

Lists It Appears On:

  • Barnes And Noble
  • Goodreads
  • Parenting Chaos

Nancy is furious when she cannot go to her friend Bree’s butterfly-themed birthday party, but her family’s outing might just be extraordinary enough to make her feel better. Includes facts about butterflies.




13 .) From Caterpillar to Butterfly written by Deborah Heiligman

	From Caterpillar to Butterfly

Lists It Appears On:

  • Goodreads
  • Parenting Chaos
  • Very Well Family

While watching a caterpillar brought to school in a glass jar slowly change into a beautiful butterfly, the class and the reader learn the basics about the mystery of metamorphosis.




12 .) Glasswings: A Butterfly’s Story written by Elisa Kleven

	Glasswings: A Butterfly's Story

Lists It Appears On:

  • Confidence Meets Parenting
  • Goodreads
  • Parenting Chaos

Lost in the city, a butterfly with see-through wings makes friends with a ladybug, an ant, and a pigeon, and together they help flowers bloom and grow.




11 .) How to Raise Monarch Butterflies: A Step-By-Step Guide for Kids written by Carol Pasternak

	How to Raise Monarch Butterflies: A Step-By-Step Guide for Kids

Lists It Appears On:

  • Butterfly Lady
  • Goodreads
  • Parenting Chaos

Step-by-step instructions and color photographs explain the process of raising monarch butterflies.




10 .) Ten Little Caterpillars written by Bill Martin Jr.

	Ten Little Caterpillars

Lists It Appears On:

  • Butterfly Lady
  • Goodreads
  • Parenting Chaos

Illustrations and rhyming text follow ten caterpillars as one wriggles up a flower stem, another sails across a garden pool, and one reaches an apple leaf, where something amazing happens.




9 .) The Life Cycles of Butterflies: From Egg to Maturity written by Bobbie Kalman

	The Life Cycles of Butterflies: From Egg to Maturity

Lists It Appears On:

  • Goodreads
  • Parenting Chaos
  • Very Well Family

Presents a photographic look at the life cycle of twenty-three different species of garden butterflies, including information on physical characteristics and range.




8 .) Waiting for Wings written by Lois Ehlert

	Waiting for Wings

Lists It Appears On:

  • Butterfly Lady
  • Goodreads
  • Parenting Chaos

Simple text and bright pictures show how butterflies use flowers and identify several types of butterflies.




7 .) Where Butterflies Grow written by Joanne Ryder

	Where Butterflies Grow

Lists It Appears On:

  • Goodreads
  • Parenting Chaos
  • Very Well Family

Describes what it feels like to change from a caterpillar into a butterfly. Includes gardening tips to attract butterflies.




6 .) A Butterfly Is Patient written by Dianna Hutts Aston

	A Butterfly Is Patient

Lists It Appears On:

  • Butterfly Lady
  • Goodreads
  • Mommy Evolution
  • Parenting Chaos

Colorful illustrations and simple text describe the many characteristics of butterflies.




5 .) Gotta Go! Gotta Go! written by Sam Swope and Sue Riddle

	Gotta Go! Gotta Go!

Lists It Appears On:

  • Barnes And Noble
  • Butterfly Lady
  • Goodreads
  • Parenting Chaos

Although she does not know why or how, a small creepy-crawly bug is certain that she must make her way to Mexico.




4 .) National Geographic Readers: Caterpillar To Butterfly written by Laura F. Marsh and Laura Marsh

	National Geographic Readers: Caterpillar To Butterfly

Lists It Appears On:

  • Chapters
  • Mommy Evolution
  • Parenting Chaos
  • Very Well Family

Introduces readers to butterflies and the process by which they go from being an egg, to a caterpillar, to a chrysalis, and finally to a butterfly.




3 .) The Very Hungry Caterpillar written by Eric Carle

	The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Lists It Appears On:

  • Barnes And Noble
  • Goodreads
  • Mommy Evolution
  • Parenting Chaos

Follows the progress of a hungry little caterpillar as he eats his way through a varied and very large quantity of food until, full at last, he forms a cocoon around himself and goes to sleep. Die-cut pages illustrate what the caterpillar ate on successive days.…




2 .) My, Oh My–A Butterfly!: All About Butterflies written by Tish Rabe

	My, Oh My--A Butterfly!: All About Butterflies

Lists It Appears On:

  • Barnes And Noble
  • Butterfly Lady
  • Goodreads
  • Mommy Evolution
  • Parenting Chaos

Rhyming text explains the nature and habits of butterflies.




1 .) Velma Gratch and the Way Cool Butterfly written by Alan Madison and Kevin Hawkes

	Velma Gratch and the Way Cool Butterfly

Lists It Appears On:

  • Barnes And Noble
  • Confidence Meets Parenting
  • Goodreads
  • Mommy Evolution
  • Parenting Chaos

Velma starts first grade in the shadow of her memorable older sisters, and while her newfound interest in butterflies helps her to stand out, it also leads to an interesting complication.





The 125+ Additional Best Books About Butterflies And Caterpillars



#BooksAuthorsLists
20Arabella Miller’s Tiny CaterpillarClare JarrettGoodreads
Parenting Chaos
21Bird, Butterfly, EelJames ProsekGoodreads
Parenting Chaos
22
Butterflies (Blastoff! Readers: World of Insects)
 
Confidence Meets Parenting
Parenting Chaos
23Butterflies in the GardenCarol LernerGoodreads
Parenting Chaos
24Butterfly Butterfly: A Book of ColorsPetr HoráčekGoodreads
Parenting Chaos
25Butterfly CountSneed B. Collard IIIGoodreads
Parenting Chaos
26Butterfly GardenMargaret McNamaraGoodreads
Parenting Chaos
27Butterfly StoryAnca HaritonGoodreads
Parenting Chaos
28Butterfly TreeSandra MarkleGoodreads
Parenting Chaos
29
Caterpillars, Bugs and Butterflies: Take-Along Guide (Take Along Guides)
 Mommy Evolution
Parenting Chaos
30Flight of the ButterfliesRoberta EdwardsGoodreads
Parenting Chaos
31Handle with Care: An Unusual Butterfly JourneyLoree Griffin BurnsGoodreads
Parenting Chaos
32Hurry and the MonarchAntoine Ó FlathartaGoodreads
Parenting Chaos
33I Wish I Were a ButterflyJames HoweGoodreads
Parenting Chaos
34Monarch ButterflyGail GibbonsGoodreads
Parenting Chaos
35Monarch Butterfly of Aster Way – a Smithsonian’s Backyard BookElizabeth RingGoodreads
Parenting Chaos
36
National Geographic Readers: Great Migrations Butterflies
 Parenting Chaos
Very Well Family
37Summer Birds: The Butterflies of Maria MerianMargarita EngleGoodreads
Parenting Chaos
38Ten Wriggly Wiggly CaterpillarsDebbie TarbettGoodreads
Parenting Chaos
39The Apple and the ButterflyIela MariGoodreads
Parenting Chaos
40The Beautiful Butterfly: A Folktale from SpainJudy SierraGoodreads
Parenting Chaos
41The Butterfly AlphabetKjell B. SandvedGoodreads
Parenting Chaos
42The Butterfly Alphabet BookBrian CassieGoodreads
Parenting Chaos
43The Butterfly GardenSue HarrisChapters
Goodreads
44The Lamb and the ButterflyArnold SundgaardGoodreads
Parenting Chaos
45What’s the Difference Between a Butterfly and a Moth?Robin KoontzGoodreads
Parenting Chaos
46
Wings of Light: The Migration of the Yellow Butterfly
 
Confidence Meets Parenting
Parenting Chaos
47A Butterfly GrowsStephen R. SwinburneGoodreads
48
A Butterfly’s Life (Science Slam: Animal Diaries: Life Cycles)
 Parenting Chaos
49A First Look at CaterpillarsMillicent E. SelsamGoodreads
50A Luna Moth’s LifeJohn HimmelmanGoodreads
51A Picture Book of Butterflies and MothsTroll BooksGoodreads
52Amanda’s ButterflyNick ButterworthGoodreads
53
American Girl: WellieWishers: Willa’s Butterfly Ballet
 Chapters
54An Extraordinary LifeLaurence PringleGoodreads
55An Invitation to the Butterfly BallJane YolenGoodreads
56Angelina and the ButterflyKatharine HolabirdGoodreads
57Becoming Butterflies Parenting Chaos
58Big BugsSeymour SimonGoodreads
59Born to Be a ButterflyKaren WallaceGoodreads
60
Box of Butterflies: Discovering the Unexpected Blessings All Around Us
 Chapters
61
Brown, Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
 Butterfly Lady
62Bugs, Bugs, Bugs: 20 Songs and Over 250 Activities for Young ChildrenPam SchillerGoodreads
63Butterflies (Insects) 
Confidence Meets Parenting
64
Butterflies (Under the Microscope: Backyard Bugs)
 
Confidence Meets Parenting
65Butterflies Keep Flying Parenting Chaos
66Butterflies of the World Parenting Chaos
67ButterflyLisa MagloffGoodreads
68Butterfly (Watch Me Grow) 
Confidence Meets Parenting
69Butterfly & Moth (Eyewitness Books)Paul WhalleyGoodreads
70Butterfly Alphabet Coloring BookCarol SchmidtGoodreads
71
Butterfly and the Bog Beast : A Book about Butterfly Camouflage (Magic School Bus)
 Parenting Chaos
72Butterfly Battle (The Magic School Bus Chapter Book, #16)Joanna ColeGoodreads
73Butterfly BirthdayHarriet ZiefertGoodreads
74Butterfly ExpressJane Belk MoncureGoodreads
75Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the MeadowJoyce SidmanGoodreads
76
Butterfly or Moth?: How Do You Know? (Which Animal Is Which?)
 Parenting Chaos
77
Butterfly Oracle Cards For Life Changes: A 44-card Deck And Guidebook
 Chapters
78Butterfly, Flea, Beetle, and Bee: What Is an InsectBrian P. ClearyGoodreads
79Caterpillar Spring – Butterfly SummerSusan HoodGoodreads
80Caterpillar to ButterflyLaura MarshGoodreads
81Caterpillar’s Dream: Will she ever fly?Roitman TrilloGoodreads
82
Caterpillars and Butterflies (Beginners) (Usborne Beginners) by Stephanie Turnbull (2006) Hardcover
 Parenting Chaos
83
Caterpillars on the Move! (Ready, Freddy! Reader,
 Parenting Chaos
84
Caterpillars to Butterflies (It’s Fun to Learn about Baby Animals (Paperback))
 Parenting Chaos
85Charlie the CaterpillarAndy GutmanGoodreads
86Citizen Scientists: Be a Part of Scientific Discovery from Your Own BackyardLoree Griffin BurnsGoodreads
87Clara Caterpillar Parenting Chaos
88Diego Saves a ButterflyLara BergenGoodreads
89DK Readers L1: Born to Be a Butterfly Parenting Chaos
90DK See How They Grow: ButterflyKim TaylorGoodreads
91
Eyewitness: Butterfly & Moth (Eyewitness Books)
 Parenting Chaos
92
Face to Face with Butterflies (Face to Face with Animals)
 Parenting Chaos
93
Face to Face with Caterpillars (Face to Face with Animals)
 Parenting Chaos
94Friends Across the BorderEvangeline Duran FuentesGoodreads
95From Egg to ButterflyShannon ZemlickaGoodreads
96
Gardening for Butterflies: How You Can Attract and Protect Beautiful, Beneficial Insects
 Mommy Evolution
97Hello, CaterpillarAllyn & BaconGoodreads
98Hope for the FlowersTrina PaulusGoodreads
99
How Does a Caterpillar Become a Butterfly?: And Other Questions about Butterflies (Good Question!)
 Parenting Chaos
100How to Hide a Butterfly and Other InsectsRuth HellerGoodreads
101I Can Write a Book about Butterflies Parenting Chaos
102
I’m a Caterpillar (Scholastic Reader Level 1)
 Parenting Chaos
103Inch by Inch Parenting Chaos
104
Instant Wall Art – Butterfly Botanical Prints: 45 Ready-to-Frame Vintage Illustrations for Your…
 Chapters
105
Isabel’s House of Butterflies (Sierra Club Books (Sierra))
 Parenting Chaos
106It’s a Butterfly’s Life Parenting Chaos
107Kokopelli & the ButterflyMichael SternsGoodreads
108La Mariposa Parenting Chaos
109Little ButterflyKlaartje Van Der PutGoodreads
110
Look And Learn About Butterflies – Curious Kids Press: Kids book about animals and wildlife, Children’s books 4-6
 Parenting Chaos
111Lord of the Butterflies Chapters
112Madame’s Journey Home Parenting Chaos
113Miss Hallberg’s Butterfly Garden Parenting Chaos
114Monarch Butterfly Lady
115Monarch and MilkweedHelen FrostGoodreads
116
Monarch Magic! Butterfly Activities & Nature Discoveries
 Parenting Chaos
117MothsFran HowardGoodreads
118
National Geographic Kids Look and Learn: Caterpillar to Butterfly (Look & Learn)
 Parenting Chaos
119
OLIVIA and the Butterfly Adventure (Olivia TV Tie-in)
 Parenting Chaos
120One Little BlueberryTammi SalzanoGoodreads
121Open House for ButterfliesRuth KraussGoodreads
122Owly Wormy, Friends All Aflutter!Andy RuntonGoodreads
123
Percival the Plain Little Caterpillar (Sparkle Books)
 Parenting Chaos
124Pinkalicious and the Little Butterfly Mommy Evolution
125Red Butterfly: How a Princess Smuggled the Secret of Silk Out of ChinaDeborah NoyesGoodreads
126Slug: The Reluctant ButterflySteve CoplandGoodreads
127
Smithsonian Handbooks: Butterflies & Moths
 Parenting Chaos
128Swallowtails Butterfly Lady
129Ten Magic Butterflies Chapters
130The Amazing Life Cycle of Butterflies Chapters
131The Beautiful Butterfly BookSue UnsteadGoodreads
132The ButterflyAnna MilbourneGoodreads
133The Butterfly Ball And The Grasshopper’s FeastWilliam PlomerGoodreads
134The Butterfly Boy Parenting Chaos
135The Butterfly Effect: How Your Life Matters Chapters
136The Butterfly Lion Chapters
137The Butterfly Tree Parenting Chaos
138The Caterpillar and the PolliwogJack KentGoodreads
139
The Creepy, Crawly Caterpillar: Ladybird Little Explorers
 Parenting Chaos
140The Crunching Munching CaterpillarSheridan CainGoodreads
141The Family Butterfly Book Very Well Family
142The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian’s Art Changed ScienceJoyce SidmanGoodreads
143The Girl Who Loved Caterpillars Parenting Chaos
144The Life of a ButterflyRobin BernardGoodreads
145The Magic School Bus: Butterfly and the Bog Beast: A Book about Butterfly CamouflageNancy E. KrulikGoodreads
146
The Monarch Butterfly and The Cecropia Moth: Miraculous Stages and Changes
 Chapters
147The Prince of Butterflies Parenting Chaos
148The Story of the Butterfly ChildrenSibylle von OlfersGoodreads
149Time For Kids: Butterflies! (Time for Kids Science Scoops) Parenting Chaos
150Western Pygmy Blue Butterfly Lady
151
What Happens Next? Caterpillar to Butterfly (Rookie Toddler)
 Parenting Chaos
152
When Butterflies Cross the Sky: The Monarch Butterfly Migration (Extraordinary Migrations)
 Parenting Chaos
153Where’s My Mom?Julia DonaldsonGoodreads


8 Best Children’s Books Featuring Butterflies And Transformation Book Sources/Lists



SourceArticle
Barnes And Noble 7 Picture Books About Butterflies
Butterfly Lady Top Five Children’s Butterfly Books
Chapters butterflies in books
Confidence Meets Parenting Kids Books About Butterflies
Goodreads Picture Books About Butterflies
Mommy Evolution Butterfly Books for Children
Parenting Chaos 75+ Butterfly Books for Kids
Very Well Family Children’s Books About Butterflies