Butterfly for a King: Saving Hawaii's Kamehameha Butterflies

Beginning with the history of Hawai'i's geological formation ("layers of lava piled up") and moving to its sociopolitical history--King Kamehameha's early 19th-century uniting of the island chain now known as a U.S. state--this nonfiction book centers Kamehameha's namesake butterfly, which "lives in Hawai'i and nowhere else on Earth." After fifth grade students successfully campaigned to elect the butterfly as state insect in 2009, people became aware of its shrinking population and formed the Pulelehua Project, which, with the help of citizen scientists, bred and released thousands of the insects back into nature. The previous collaborators (Parrots over Puerto Rico) begin each page with spare, consecutive sentences, employing ellipses across the spread's gutter ("Children spoke up.../ and a law was passed") and a denser paragraph of additional information in each page's lower third ("The students told lawmakers that the butterfly's numbers were shrinking"). Roth's intricate collages offer lush layers of cut shapes in a variety of colors and textures, which, combined with simple phrases ("Butterflies laid eggs.../ and caterpillars hatched), are particularly fitting for readers below the stated age range. An eco-conscious narrative suited to invigorating older children's own activist efforts. Back matter includes an informative afterword, photographs, an illustrator's note, and author's sources. Ages 8-12. (Feb.)

Gr 1-4--Conservation, citizen science, and a perennially popular juvenile nonfiction topic come together in this beautifully illustrated title about Hawai'i's Kamehameha butterflies. The narrative begins with the formation of the Hawaiian islands and introduces Kamehameha as the king who unified the islands under his leadership. He also had a butterfly named for him. In 2009, six fifth-grade students campaigned to get the Kamehameha butterfly named as Hawai'i's official state insect in an effort to raise awareness of the population's decline. The Pulelehua Project was formed, and its scientists asked Hawaiian citizens to record and submit data of the butterflies in their natural habitats in the stages of their life cycle. This information helped determine where and when to release butterflies from a breeding program into the wild. The text works on two levels to expand its intended audience range. The top of each spread features a short sentence, often with a repetitive clause, that draws a simple throughline in the story. More complex scientific concepts and explanations are included in paragraphs near the bottom of the pages. Roth's intricate and appealing collages elevate the title, opening strongly on an exploding volcano and making each page turn an anticipatory delight. An afterword, illustrator's note, acknowledgments, sources, and photograph credits are included. VERDICT A triumph; highly recommended for all libraries.--Kacy Helwick, New Orleans P.L.