Why Butterflies Go By On Silent Wings - Hardcover

K-Gr 4-This original folktale describes a wilderness filled with the loud and incessant "hoots and roars, screeches and yowls" of animals. Surprisingly, the noisiest, most annoying sounds come from the drab-colored butterflies, as they flit around bragging about themselves, or rest in a Bingalou tree and argue with one another. They even attack two children who come too close to their roost. During an intense storm, lightning strikes the tree and the insects are thrown into the mud. When they recover, they look around for the very first time and notice the beauty of their surroundings. They also discover that their wings have taken on the colors of a rainbow. This magical transformation jars the butterflies into a reverent silence. The animals enjoy the peace, and the children return to admire the dazzling insects that glide on "silent wings." Although a bit long, the story is well written and the language is evocative. Painted in watercolor and then manipulated in Photoshop, the delicate artwork is filled with vibrant colors. The animals gracefully move across pastel backgrounds, and the brightly hued flowers and lush green leaves are equally eye-catching. Many of the images are placed around the borders of the pages, making room for the big blocks of text. Although the tale may be a bit too quiet for some children, there is a lot to think about here, as the butterflies make their metamorphosis from self-absorbed and unattractive creatures into beautiful beings who have learned to look out instead of in.

Joy Fleishhacker, formerly at School Library Journal

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