Our 25 Favorite Books About Butterflies for Preschool & Toddlers
The butterfly’s beauty and unique life cycle make this creature a perfect way to introduce the insect world. This list of 25 butterfly books for preschoolers and toddlers will teach early learners includes butterfly facts, stories, and even environmental activism.
Parents and educators can use books to introduce children to butterflies, teach the butterfly life cycle, and even teach important life lessons through butterfly characters. Each book on this list was specifically chosen for its quality and the value it can bring to a child’s library. At the end of the post, you’ll find more information about teaching children about butterflies.
Books that Introduce Butterflies
How to Be a Butterfly
By Laura Knowles, illustrated by Catell Ronca
Available in: hardcover
This lovely book balances basic butterfly facts for the youngest readers with more detailed, advanced info for older readers. Inside, readers will find detailed illustrations of butterflies and information about butterfly habitats and lifecycles.
Pop-Up Peekaboo! Butterfly
By DK, illustrated by Miranda Sofroniou
Available in: board book
Readers will learn about butterflies and the butterfly life cycle through rhyme, repetition, and pop-up illustrations. This is the most interactive butterfly book on our list and is perfect for toddlers and younger preschoolers.
Butterflies Are Pretty … Gross!
By Rosemary Mosco, illustrated by Jacob Souva
Available in: hardcover
Here we have the other side of the beloved butterfly. The book’s main character shares all the icky, gross facts about butterflies. These are the things that most readers won’t know. The quirky illustrations in this book only amp up the humor.
Monarch Butterfly (new & updated)
By Gail Gibbons
Available in: hardcover & paperback
This book is a quick, easy-to-understand introduction to the lives and behaviors of the monarch butterfly. If you are looking for this book, make sure you have the new, updated version.
Look to the Skies: The Magical Migration of the Monarch Butterfly
By Nicola Edwards, illustrated by Hannah Tolson
Available in: hardcover
Following the monarch migration, the book takes us on a journey to explore how diverse groups of people experience the monarch butterfly. This bright, colorful book includes cut-outs to provide a sneak peek from page to page.
The Butterfly Alphabet Book
By Jerry Pallotta & Brian Cassie, illustrated by Mark Astrella
Available in: paperback
Learn about the vast world of butterflies by following the alphabet. This vibrantly colored book introduces types of butterflies and a few interesting facts for each one.
And please check out its companion, Not a Butterfly Alphabet Book, where readers can learn the ABCs of Moths.
A Butterfly is Patient
By Dianna Aston, illustrated by Sylvia Long
Available in: hardcover & paperback
This highly-rated butterfly nature book includes incredible, detailed illustrations. This book is an excellent introduction to early learners. Adults can easily adapt the book’s text to match the children’s developmental level.
Butterfly Colors and Counting
By Jerry Pallotta, illustrated by Shennen Bersani
Available in: hardcover & board book
This colors and counting book is a simple introduction to the variety of butterfly species. The vibrant illustrations will capture readers’ attention while they engage in counting and discussing the colors. I do wish each page included the name of the butterfly species.
More Books about Critters
Stories About Butterflies
Out of Nowhere
By Chris Naylor-Ballesteros
Available in: hardcover & paperback
A beetle befriends a caterpillar who suddenly vanishes. Now the beetle waits and waits for its friend. Then, out of nowhere…
The pencil-drawing illustrations in this book are amazing. The pictures are all black and white with just a pop of red for one character. This book gives readers a change from bright, vibrant butterfly children’s books.
Butterflies Belong Here: A Story of One Idea, Thirty Kids, and a World of Butterflies
By Deborah Hopkinson, illustrated by Meilo So
Available in: hardcover
This story is about children’s activism, butterfly conservation, and feeling like you belong. The main character is an immigrant girl who identifies with butterflies. Her passion motivates her community to take action. The story also seamlessly ties information about the monarch butterfly.
Butterfly Park
By Elly MacKay
Available in: hardcover
A butterfly-loving little girl moves to the city. She stumbles across a butterfly-less local park. Soon she partners with others to find a way to draw butterflies back into their butterfly park (note title of the book).
The illustrations in this book are, well, a whole other level of amazing. The artwork was created by illuminating cut-out paper.
It’s My Time to Fly: The Story of Caterpillar Number Five
By Julie Conner, illustrated by Emily Row
Available in: hardcover & paperback
This sweet story, written by a special education teacher, follows the story of a caterpillar transforming at its own pace. The soft colors of the illustrations only add to the book’s charm.
Ten Magic Butterflies
By Danica McKellar, illustrated by Jennifer Bricking
Available in: hardcover, paperback, & board book
Let’s mix math, bugs, and magic. This story introduces simple math through catchy rhymes and vibrant illustrations. Readers will take away the message that “the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.”
Moth & Butterfly: Ta Da!
By Dev Petty, illustrated by Ana Aranda
Available in: hardcover
In this quirky story, readers follow the journey of two best bud caterpillars going through metamorphosis together. Children will learn about friendship, differences, and insect science.
Binkle’s Time to Fly
By Sharmila Collins, illustrated by Carolina Rabei
Available in: hardcover
This heartwarming butterfly book shared the story of Binkle. Binkle must overcome a huge obstacle in his life, but he has help from others. Parents and educators can use this story to talk to children about disabilities and the power of caring for others.
Lemon Butterfly
By Cao Wenxuan, illustrated by Roger Mello
Available in: hardcover & paperback
This children’s book is slightly different than others on the list. Also, it seems to be entirely underrated on the internet.
This book introduces readers to butterflies, art, and lessons in pursuing your goals. The story, translated from Chinese, follows a lemon butterfly looking for a beautiful field of flowers. The lyrical text and intense, dynamic artwork make this a brilliant butterfly book for children.
Nonfiction Books with Butterfly Photos
Smithsonian Kids Butterflies and Moths: First Discovery Books
By Scarlett Wing, Smithsonian Kids, Cottage Door Press, & Parragon
Available in: board book
This board book features photographs and textured pages for children to explore. Readers get to compare and contrast butterflies and moths. The book also introduces the life cycle of the butterfly.
Butterflies for Kids
By Lauren Davidson
Available in: hardcover & paperback
This fact-packed butterfly book is excellent for a unit on butterflies or insects. The book focuses on butterfly species in North America and includes extended learning activities for readers. The photographs give readers a close-up look at butterflies.
More Books about Critters
Explore My World: Butterflies
By Marfe Delano
Available in: hardcover & paperback
This butterfly book is pretty straightforward. Readers are introduced to butterflies, butterfly behaviors and habitats, and the importance of butterflies to the environment.
Flutter, Butterfly!
By Shelby Alinsky
Available in: paperback
This butterfly book contains bright photographs, easy-to-understand facts, and butterfly vocabulary for early learners.
Caterpillar to Butterfly
By Laura Marsh
Available in: paperback
This book doubles in the life cycle of butterflies book category. Younger readers will love the photographs of the butterfly life cycle. Older readers will also appreciate all the butterfly facts.
Life Cycle of the Butterfly Books
Learning about life cycles? Explore children’s books about the frog life cycle.
The Amazing Life Cycle of Butterflies
By Kay Barnham, illustrated by Maddie Frost
Available in: hardcover & paperback
This book is an absolutely adorable introduction to the life cycle of the butterfly. The illustrations are charming, and the text targets our youngest readers.
Hello, Little One: A Monarch Butterfly Story
By Zeena Pliska, illustrated by Fiona Halliday
Available in: hardcover
This book introduces the life cycle of butterflies through two endearing characters. The illustrations are absolutely captivating, and the story connects readers to the experiences of insects.
A Butterfly’s Life Cycle
By Mary R. Dunn
Available in: paperback
The large, bright photographs in this nonfiction butterfly book introduce readers to the butterfly life cycle from egg to butterfly.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
By Eric Carle
Available in: hardcover, paperback, & board book
Can you make a butterfly book list without this classic?
A newly hatched caterpillar is on a mission to feed his appetite. Once his belly is full, he’s ready to move into the next part of the butterfly life cycle. If your class or child adores this character, the hungry caterpillar now has into quite an extensive book series.
Is The Hungry Caterpillar fiction or nonfiction?
This is a fictional story that introduces the life cycle of the butterfly.
Waiting for Wings
By Lois Ehlert
Available in: hardcover & paperback
The simple rhyming language of this book will draw readers into the world of butterflies. The deep colors and collage illustrations will hold their attention until the end of the book. This book is a must-have on your butterfly bookshelf.
I recommend BookShop.org as an alternative to amazon. Each purchase on BookShop.org supports local and independent bookstores. You can explore my book lists for early learners or search for any books (new and used).
How do you introduce butterflies to kids?
While I advocate for hands-on learning, this can sometimes be difficult when learning about insects. The next best way can be through books. The butterfly books on this list teach children about these creatures, their life cycle, and how they impact the world around us. Once your child’s interest is sparked, it may be time to plant a butterfly garden.
What can you teach kids about butterflies?
There are many things that you can teach kids about butterflies. The books on this list can inspire or extend any butterfly lesson or unit.
- Butterfly life cycles
- Importance of pollinators
- Butterfly behavior
- Butterfly migration
- Butterfly conservation
- Compare/contrast butterflies and moths
- Characteristics of insects
- What is metamorphosis?
- Butterfly species
How do you explain butterflies to preschoolers?
Butterflies are insects, but they have a unique life cycle. A butterfly’s life starts as an egg. When they are first born, they are caterpillars. Caterpillars eat a lot, and they grow very quickly. Once they have grown enough, they spin a chrysalis around themselves and stay inside while they transform into a butterfly. Finally, the butterfly emerges to live as an adult insect.
I hope you found your child’s or classroom’s next favorite butterfly book. These books are the perfect extension for nature or bug lessons. If you are looking for more books about insects, we have even more bug book lists that you can check out.
Do you have a favorite memory about bugs from childhood? Please share below.
