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Making Memories
If I Were A Butterfly? follows a little girl whose backyard daydream carries her into a magical world in which she becomes a beautiful butterfly and learns an important lesson about true beauty from the Flower Queen. Where did the idea for this story come from?
The story comes from my granddaughters, of course, mainly because of my service dog. She loved butterflies, she’d let them land on her nose, and she’d sit there for as long as she could.. the smiles on her face… Anyway, the grands and I started a little story. The little girl in the story at first didn’t have a name, then I thought of a sweet friend from Indiana I’d known her more than 30 years, she reminded me of a butterfly, even back then, so beautiful and sweet. Always made people feel so good when she was near. She just had that way about her. She encouraged me to write long before I started. The kids would flap their wings and say I’m a butterfly and I’d ask, “What do you see?” Anyway, that’s how it started
What was the most enjoyable part of creating a story together?
The fun of making memories to last a lifetime with your grandchildren–it’s priceless.
What makes Michelle relatable to children?
Maybe because real children helped to create it. Just like they’d say, “Why can’t they put coloring pages in books so we can enjoy the books longer?”
What conversations do you hope families have after reading the book together?
Oh, my. Maybe how special every child is, just the way they are. They don’t have to be someone or something else. They are a joy, and they are beautiful just as they are.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
Guided by kindness and wonder, Michelle’s adventure leads her to the enchanting Flower Queen, who teaches her that the true beauty of being a butterfly lies in spreading joy and simply being yourself.
Perfect for children aged 4-8, If I Were a Butterfly is a gentle, uplifting tale celebrating imagination, nature, and self-worth. With vivid storytelling and a magical message, it’s a bedtime favorite that will leave young readers smiling and inspired.
If I Were A Butterfly?
If I Were a Butterfly?, written by MM Myers and her granddaughters, Samantha, Hope, and Ellie, follows little Michelle as a sunny backyard daydream carries her into a magical garden where she becomes a butterfly with sparkly pink wings. Along the way, she meets a friendly bumblebee, watches ants at work, talks with a dragonfly, gets help from a kind ladybug, and finally meets the Flower Queen, who teaches her that beauty isn’t only about wings or sparkle. It’s about the joy we bring into the world simply by being ourselves.
I found the sweetest part of this children’s book to be its tender belief in a child’s imagination. The writing has a soft, storybook quality, full of sunshine, flowers, nectar, and wonder, and I could easily picture reading it aloud to a little one who still sees magic in the backyard. The phrasing is gentle and affectionate, especially in the scenes between Michelle and her mommy, and that emotional warmth gives the story its heart. Michelle is enchanted by her pink wings, then slowly learns that her real value is deeper than how beautiful she looks. I appreciated that.
The artwork is bright, dreamy, and unabashedly whimsical. The garden scenes glow with golden light, bright flowers, and soft fantasy details that make the world feel safe and enchanted rather than strange or overwhelming. I especially liked the images of Michelle with her butterfly wings, because they capture that childhood feeling of stepping completely into a pretend world and believing in it with your whole body. The coloring pages at the end are a nice touch, too. They extend the experience beyond the story and invite children to spend more time in the book’s butterfly world with their own crayons and choices.
If I Were a Butterfly? is a loving picture book with a gentle message about imagination, confidence, and self-worth. It has the kind of tenderness that feels especially suited to bedtime reading or a quiet afternoon with a child curled close beside you. I’d recommend it for young children who love butterflies, gardens, princess-like fantasy touches, and reassuring stories that remind them they already make the world brighter just as they are.
Pages: 49 | ASIN : B0FJ3VYRWD
