Cooper, Helen. Saving the Butterfly. Gill Smith, Illus. Picture Book. Candlewick, 06/2022. [28]pp. $17.99. 978-1- 5362-2055-1. ADDITIONAL. GRADES K-3.
Two refugee children are rescued from a boat and while the older sister is traumatized, the younger brother seems to be adjusting even though they don’t appear to have parents. He brings a butterfly into their house which helps the sister slowly adjust to going outside and finding hope. The story is allegorical, so it may be confusing to younger children, but with guidance from an adult reading the book, they could learn about empathy and resilience. The full-color, mixed-media illustrations resemble pastel chalk drawings, depicting the siblings with black hair and light brown skin, but no country of origin for the two is mentioned. A special picture book on a serious topic.
Penny Peck, San Jose State University, iSchool