Did You Know? National Learn About Butterflies Day 2024

A butterfly begins life as a tiny egg. Within a week, the egg hatches into a caterpillar. The caterpillar eats leaves and flowers until it’s much, much bigger, and then develops a shell, called a chrysalis, that protects the caterpillar while it morphs into a butterfly. Chrysalises can often be found hanging under leaves or branches. After 10-15 days, a beautiful butterfly emerges! For more information about butterflies, check out our collection of nonfiction butterfly books, below.

Cicada Symphony by Sue Fliess

Insects (Want to Know) by Sanne Ramakers

The Mystery of the Monarchs: How Kids, Teachers, and Butterfly Fans Helped Fred and Norah Urquhart Track the Great Monarch Migration by Barb Rosenstock

Snug as a Bug? by Karl Newson

Just a Worm by Marie Boyd

The Bee Without Wings by Amberlea Williams

Insect (DK Eyewitness) by DK

Bite, Sting, Kill: The Incredible Science of Toxins, Venom, Fangs, and Stingers (National Geographic Kids) by Julie Beer

The Story of a Butterfly: Learn about the Life Cycle and Habitat of the Painted Lady by Margaret Rose Reed

The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian's Art Changed Science by Joyce Sidman

Dot Day (Dot the Ladybug) by Kallie George

Beetle Mania (Dirt and Bugsy) by Megan Litwin

My Book of Butterflies by Geraldo Valério

The Big Book of Bugs (Big Book) by Yuval Zommer

Ada Twist Scientist: Bug Bonanza! (Questioneers: The Why Files #4) by Andrea Beaty