The 6 Best Books About Butterflies for All Ages

Written by Katie Melynn Wood
Updated: April 8, 2023
© iStock.com/mzurawski

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Butterflies have captured our fascination for centuries. Their world is so vast and intricate, and there’s always so much to learn about these fascinating creatures. Butterflies play an important role in our ecosystem because they are pollinators for many plants. Without butterfly pollination, many plants would not be able to reproduce and could ultimately go extinct! Butterflies also serve as an important food source for many animals and help to control plant growth and distribution.

Butterflies have a natural beauty and grace that serve as a valuable reminder of the delicate balance and diversity of nature, and many people want to learn more about their lifecycle, food, and behavior. Some butterflies migrate through certain areas each year and are a major attraction for tourists and locals alike during their brief stays.

Whether you have a toddler obsessed with “flutterbies,” you are a burgeoning lepidopterist, or you want to learn how to support the vulnerable butterfly population in your area, there is a book for you. Whatever your interest, here are the best books about butterflies for every age and reader!

  1. How to Raise Monarch Butterflies: A Step-by-Step Guide for Kids (How It Works)
    • 48 pages.
    • Customers recommend this book for readers 5 years and older.
    • Covers every stage of a butterfly's life.
    Check Amazon
  2. The Very Hungry Caterpillar
    • 32 pages.
    • Customers recommend this book for children ages 1 through 4.
    • A classic children's book by Eric Carle.
    Check Amazon
  3. Butterflies and Moths
    • 12 pages.
    • Recommended for children ages 2 through 6.
    • Part of the Smithsonian Kids First Discovery series of books.
    Check Amazon
  4. Handbooks: Butterflies & Moths: The Clearest Recognition Guide Available (DK Smithsonian Handbook)
    • 304 pages.
    • Contains over 600 photographs of butterflies.
    • Covers over 500 species of butterflies.
    Check Amazon
  5. Gardening for Butterflies: How You Can Attract and Protect Beautiful, Beneficial Insects
    • 288 pages.
    • A guide for attracting butterflies to your garden and protecting them.
    • Offers tips for plant recommendations and garden design.
    Check Amazon
  6. Butterflies of the World
    • This book provides information on butterflies around the globe, not just those in North America.
    • It includes tons of beautiful photographs for identification.
    • The book includes lots of scientific facts.
    • It is a great reference for both experts and casual readers.
    Check Amazon

Top Picks: The Best Books About Butterflies for all Ages

#1 Best Overall: How to Raise Monarch Butterflies: A Step-by-Step Guide for Kids by Carol Pasternak

The best book about butterflies is actually a how-to guide on raising them yourself, How to Raise Monarch Butterflies: A Step-by-Step Guide for Kids. This book has so much detail and information but is still easy to understand. If you decide to try raising butterflies yourself (which we highly recommend, whether you are doing it with young kids or on your own!), you’ll have an even better experience reading and actually putting the knowledge into practice. Not to mention you’ll be helping the environment by supporting the vulnerable butterfly populations.

One of my favorite features is the detailed depiction of the chrysalis throughout the book. It includes diagrams and illustrations of the anatomy as well as all of the stages that a caterpillar goes through to become a butterfly. With this book, you can find caterpillars in the wild, take care of them in a safe and appropriate habitat as they form their chrysalises, and release them when they become butterflies. There are also instructions on growing your own butterfly garden if you just want to provide a place outdoors for butterflies to enjoy.

This book is full of scientific facts and is easy to understand. It also has more than 40 colorful photographs, along with actionable steps that you can take to raise butterflies or protect their habitats and identification guides. It does focus on monarch butterflies but you can apply many of the principles to other species as well. Many reviewers have successfully raised their own monarch butterflies thanks to this amazing book!

Pros and Cons of How to Raise Monarch Butterflies: A Step-by-Step Guide for Kids by Carol Pasternak

ProsCons
This book is full of scientific facts, explanations, directions, and tons of detail, but is organized and presented in a way that is easy to understand.
There are diagrams, illustrations, and stunning photographs that detail the anatomy and stages of butterfly lifecycles.
The book teaches you how to find caterpillars in the wild and care for them as they transform into butterflies.
It also explains why caring for caterpillars and butterflies is important.
There are also directions on how to create your own butterfly garden in this book.
The book mostly focuses on monarch butterflies as they are extremely vulnerable, but the principles can be applied to other species.
Many reviewers have successfully raised their own monarch butterflies with the help of this book.
Best Overall
How to Raise Monarch Butterflies: A Step-by-Step Guide for Kids (How It Works)
  • 48 pages.
  • Customers recommend this book for readers 5 years and older.
  • Covers every stage of a butterfly's life.
Check Amazon

2. Runner-Up: The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Okay, so the titular character in this book is actually a caterpillar, but he does transform into a beautiful butterfly in the end! This book has been responsible for starting many children on their butterfly-obsessed reading path and is often considered a beloved family favorite. The story of the caterpillar who hatches and starts to eat (and eat and eat) until he is big enough to transform into a butterfly is simple and heartwarming. It is also something that many kids can relate to as they also eat, change, and continue to grow. This book is also a great metaphor to help children (and even adults!) understand the constancy of change and transformation.

The caterpillar in the story eats fruit and then moves on to treats, including cupcakes, lollipops, and pie. Parents won’t be surprised that he ends up with a stomach ache, which he soothes by eating a nice green leaf. This is a great point to talk to your kids about food choices as well as what butterflies eat in the wild. If they are interested to do more, you can plant a butterfly garden with their favorite foods.

The collage art is bold, colorful, and beautiful, and very characteristic of Eric Carle’s typical work. The art in this story is another great opportunity to introduce your kids to art and how they can use various materials and techniques to create. We have used this book as a starting point for many discussions and activities in my own house. It is also just a fun book to read and enjoy on its own.

Pros and Cons of The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

ProsCons
This book is a well-known classic and a beloved family favorite for many.
It is responsible for getting many children interested in butterflies and the natural world.
The book’s main story of transformation is a great lesson for anyone, young and old.
The caterpillar in the book gets sick after eating too many sweets, which can also be a great lesson for kids.
The collage art is bold, colorful, and beautiful, and very characteristic of Eric Carle’s typical work.
The unique art in this book can be another great way to introduce different art styles and ideas to children.
Runner-Up
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
  • 32 pages.
  • Customers recommend this book for children ages 1 through 4.
  • A classic children's book by Eric Carle.
Check Amazon

3. Best for Toddlers: Smithsonian Kids Butterflies and Moths by Scarlett Wing

The pages of Smithsonian Kids Butterflies and Moths have plenty of high-resolution photos and brightly-colored boxes to keep your young child’s interest. There are also things to touch on every page, such as embossing over the images. This engages your child’s tactile senses as well as their visual and auditory senses as you read the book to them. This is a fact-based board book and its images are all from the Smithsonian’s collections and studies. If you are able to visit any of the Smithsonian museums, you can provide a real-world connection to the book as well.

Kids are likely familiar with butterfly illustrations and characters in other books but this one gets into the science as well. But don’t worry, it’s in a kid-friendly format and not too overwhelming. The pictures are a bit complex to keep the interest of young babies under one-year-old but ideal for toddlers getting more interested in exploring the world. The Smithsonian recommends it for ages 2 to 6 years but it is likely a bit too simple for older children. This book is also smaller in size and perfect for the smaller hands of toddlers.

This book also made our list of Best Children’s Books About Butterflies, which includes other great options for toddlers and young children.

Pros and Cons of Smithsonian Kids Butterflies and Moths by Scarlett Wing

ProsCons
This book is small in size and perfect for the small hands of toddlers and young children.This book is likely too complex for babies or children less than one-year-old.
It includes lots of high-resolution photos and bright colors.It may be too simple for older children.
The information in the book is completely fact-based with information and pictures from the Smithsonian.
There are also things to touch on every page, such as embossing over the images.
It is great for children 2 to 6 years old.
Best Educational Book
Butterflies and Moths
  • 12 pages.
  • Recommended for children ages 2 through 6.
  • Part of the Smithsonian Kids First Discovery series of books.
Check Amazon

4. Best for School-Aged Kids: DK Smithsonian Handbooks: Butterflies & Moths by David J. Carter

The DK Smithsonian Handbooks: Butterflies and Moths includes over 500 species, identified by photo, color, size, and other descriptive facts. It goes into detail about where they live and how you can identify them in the wild. This book is part of my favorite field guide series, and it is both easy to use and inclusive of plenty of butterfly and moth species. The author, David J. Carter, is a moth and butterfly specialist with nearly 40 years of experience.

The field guide is a great resource for kids and adults but gets a special call-out for school-aged children because it gets them outside and takes their learning beyond the classroom. Like many books about butterflies, it includes photos (over 600!) and information about their transformation from a caterpillar to a butterfly.

The book also includes maps of where the butterflies and moths are found with specific facts about each species. If you want to raise your own butterflies, this is a good place to get kids interested in the process. It is ideal for taking with you as you explore outside.

However, although most customers reported excellent and colorful photos in this book, there was a handful that said that their copy had misprints and distorted color on some of the pages.

Pros and Cons of DK Smithsonian Handbooks: Butterflies & Moths by David J. Carter

ProsCons
This book includes information on over 500 species of butterflies and moths.There was a handful of customers that said that their copy had misprints and distorted color on some of the pages.
Each species is identified by photo, color, size, and other descriptive facts.
This book is both easy to use and inclusive of plenty of butterfly and moth species
The author is a moth and butterfly specialist with nearly 40 years of experience.
This book is great for school-aged children and takes their learning beyond the classroom.
It includes over 600 photos and maps of where the butterflies and moths are found with specific facts about each species.
It is ideal for taking with you as you explore outside.
Best for School-Aged Kids
Handbooks: Butterflies & Moths: The Clearest Recognition Guide Available (DK Smithsonian Handbook)
  • 304 pages.
  • Contains over 600 photographs of butterflies.
  • Covers over 500 species of butterflies.
Check Amazon

5. Best for Adult Readers: Gardening for Butterflies: How You Can Attract and Protect Beautiful, Beneficial Insects by the Xerces Society

The tagline of Gardening for Butterflies is “create a garden that flutters with life”, which is perfectly fitting for this book. The book starts by explaining why butterflies are vital for the health of the environment and why it is so important to take steps to protect their habitat and population. It has scientific facts and goes into detail about the butterfly’s lifecycle and which plants are beneficial to which part.

This book is a gardening guide, so if you have a green thumb (or want to cultivate one), you can get a lot out of this book. There are specific plant recommendations as well as guidance on designing a garden ideal for butterflies. The book also goes into detail about care for butterfly gardens and which plants grow best in various zones, water requirements, and sun vs. shade requirements.

The book itself is beautiful with high-quality pages and stunning photographs. It is an excellent all-inclusive guide packed with tons of information. There is even a variety of additional resources at the end of the book to help you go even further in supporting these beautiful creatures. Gardening for Butterflies is an indispensable resource for butterfly lovers! However, this book focuses on mostly on North American butterflies, so it may not be so helpful if you live in Europe or elsewhere.

Pros and Cons of Gardening for Butterflies: How You Can Attract and Protect Beautiful, Beneficial Insects by the Xerces Society

ProsCons
This book explains why butterflies are vital for the health of the environment and why it is so important to take steps to protect their habitat and population.This book focuses mainly on North American butterflies.
It has scientific facts, details of the butterfly lifecycle, and a list of which plants are beneficial to which part.
This book is a great gardening guide with specific plant recommendations for butterfly gardens and their specific requirements.
The pages are high-quality and have beautiful photographs.
There is a variety of additional resources at the end of the book to help you go even further in supporting butterflies.
This is a great resource for butterflies in North America.
Best for Adult Readers
Gardening for Butterflies: How You Can Attract and Protect Beautiful, Beneficial Insects
  • 288 pages.
  • A guide for attracting butterflies to your garden and protecting them.
  • Offers tips for plant recommendations and garden design.
Check Amazon

6. Best for Butterflies Around the World: Butterflies of the World by Adrian Hoskins

Butterflies of the World by Adrian Hoskins is an excellent resource if you’re looking for information about butterflies beyond just those in North America. The book opens with an explanation of how butterflies grow, what they look like, how and where they live, and how they are classified. Then it goes into all the different butterfly families and how they behave. There is also a chapter on conservation and protecting these incredible insects.

The author, Adrian Hoskins, knows his stuff. He has spent over 25 years traveling around the world as he studies and photographs butterflies. With his expertise, Butterflies of the World provides information on so many different types of butterflies from all around the world!

This book is full of interesting stories and facts about many different kinds of butterflies. In addition to the beautiful pictures, this book is special because it also includes lots of real science and facts about butterflies, making it a book that both experts and casual readers can enjoy. The language is clear and straightforward as well, allowing even inexperienced butterfly enthusiasts to better understand these amazing creatures!

Pros and Cons of Butterflies of the World by Adrian Hoskins

ProsCons
This book provides information on butterflies around the globe, not just those in North America.
It explains how butterflies grow, what they look like, how and where they live, and how they are classified.
The book also provides information on all the different butterfly families and how they behave.
It includes tons of beautiful photographs for identification.
The book includes lots of scientific facts.
It is a great reference book for both experts and casual readers.
The language of the book is clear and straightforward.
The author has 25 years of studying and photographing butterflies all around the world.
Best for Butterflies Around the World
Butterflies of the World
  • This book provides information on butterflies around the globe, not just those in North America.
  • It includes tons of beautiful photographs for identification.
  • The book includes lots of scientific facts.
  • It is a great reference for both experts and casual readers.
Check Amazon

Criteria: How to Choose the Best Book about Butterflies

When choosing the best books about butterflies, there are important factors to consider. The three main things to consider when choosing the right book for you or your reader are:

  • Reading level
  • Interest
  • Actionability

We’ll consider each of these in more detail.

Reading Level

Books for children are generally written at a lower reading level than those for adults. They also have simpler language and fewer scientific terms. Those that are included have definitions that young readers can understand. Field guides can be written for children or adults. Scientific papers and reference materials have the highest reading levels and often include scientific vocabulary and data.

Interest

Does your reader want a fun story about a butterfly or a book geared toward learning facts and figures? Consider what your interests are when choosing a book about butterflies. Some are more entertaining and story-based. Others teach you about butterflies, caterpillars, and their environment. There are also books that can help you identify butterflies in the wild or even grow a garden to attract butterflies to your yard.

Actionability

The best books about butterflies include ways that you can engage with what you have learned beyond the story. This might mean a detailed activity that you can do, such as counting butterflies as part of their migration patterns or raising your own butterflies. Because butterflies are an important yet vulnerable part of the ecosystem, many books include small and large steps that you can take to protect their population and habitat.

The 5 Different Types of Books about Butterflies

The best book may depend on the age and interest of you or your reader. Here are the main types of books about butterflies that you may come across.

Board Books

These books are made of durable cardboard that holds up to babies and toddlers who like to pull and chew. They also have simple illustrations and stories to introduce kids to butterflies. Some also have flaps and pullouts that your child can interact with.

Picture Books

These are geared toward early readers and elementary-aged kids but can also appeal to older kids, teens, and even adults. Picture encyclopedias are a great resource for all ages because they include facts as well as illustrations and photos to help readers learn.

Field Guides

These can be written for kids or adults. They often include detailed information about species, habitats, feeding habits, and migration. If you want to identify butterflies that you see, a field guide is the best option. Some are pocket-sized so that you can take them with you as you explore.

Conservation Books

If you are more interested in how you can protect butterflies, a book about conservation may be for you. Some focus on eco-friendly steps that you can take to protect natural habitats. Others, such as gardening guides, can help you plant and maintain a butterfly-friendly area in your yard.

Reference Books

Encyclopedias and academic studies fall into this category. Some are easier to read and understand than others, although they all tend to include research-based facts and information. If you want to get into the study of butterflies, getting familiar with reference books will be very helpful.

About the Author

Katie is a freelance writer and teaching artist specializing in home, lifestyle, and family topics. Her work has appeared in At Ease Magazine, PEOPLE, and The Spruce, among others. When she is not writing, Katie teaches creative writing with the Apex Arts Magnet Program in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. You can follow Katie @katiemelynnwriter.

The 6 Best Books About Butterflies for All Ages FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

Why are butterflies important to the environment?

Butterflies are pollinators, which means they spread pollen from plant to plant. This helps plants reproduce and create fruit, which is eaten by animals — including us humans! As habitats change, however, they have less food available and are not able to help plants grow and thrive. They play a crucial role in the ecosystem, which is one reason that so many books about butterflies focus on their conservation.

Is it hard to raise butterflies?

Most people who “raise butterflies” actually raise caterpillars. These little guys are easy to care for and don’t need much beyond some food, a safe enclosed space, and room to make their chrysalis. After they emerge as butterflies, you should release them into the wild. Guides on raising butterflies can go into more detail about what they eat as well as their lifecycle. This is a fun activity for kids and adults who want to get an up-close view of nature and butterflies.

What is the easiest butterfly to raise?

Monarch butterflies are popular to raise and there are plenty of guides on how to do it, including our overall top pick book about butterflies. Other species that are easy to raise include painted lady, red admiral, and swallowtail butterflies.

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