Papilio

PreS-K–Papilio, which means butterfly in Latin, is a collaborative story written by three authors in three chapters. “Caterpillar” is about a caterpillar who eats her way out of her egg, through the leaf that supports her, and into a chance meeting with a mouse. “Chrysalis” features the same caterpillar in chrysalis-form. Although she’s snug and safe, and actively transforming, the chrysalis is passed roughly among hungry birds, dropped to the ground, and ultimately lands in the arms of the mouse from the first chapter. “Butterfly” is about the emerging butterfly, who learns to fly, escapes frogs and a spider, and is finally reunited with her mouse friend. The book accurately explains the life cycle of the butterfly and may be useful in a science classroom or unit study. The narrative perspective and style vary from author to author, resulting in a very complex narrative experience. Some children may need an assist from an older reader to understand what’s happening, as well as the science behind the story. Use of difficult science terms, puns, and colloquialisms frequently make the story less accessible, though scientifically compelling. A note at the end explains the collaborative process by which the book was written.