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Jerry Pallotta Math Books
By Jerry PallottaButterfly Colors and Counting[Board book] February 1, 2013
Learn to count to ten along with the colors of the rainbow in this lovely first concept book for the smallest butterfly lovers.From one red Tachyris zarinda to 10 pink-tipped clearwinged satyrs, Jerry Pallotta’s simple text introduces a range of butterfly species. Shennen Bersani’s realistic and colorful art flutters with the turning of each page.Butterfly Colors and Counting is a perfect companion to Pallotta’s three previous board books, The Icky Bug Counting Board Book , The Icky Bug Alphabet Board Book , and The Ocean Alphabet Board Book . Little hands will enjoy browsing this book on their own—and learning colors and numbers along the way.
Unknown Binding
First published February 1, 2013
1 person is currently reading
59 people want to read
About the author
Jerry Pallotta
239 books111 followersMy full name is Gerard Larry Pallotta but my mom always called me "Jerry". I was born on March 26, 1953 in Boston, Massachusetts. My mom's name is Mary, and she came from a family of ten children. My dad's name is Joe, and he came from a family of five children. My grandparents were immigrants of Italian descent. I have the nicest parents in the world. They have always been unselfish and ready to help me, even today. I have four brothers and two sisters: Joey, David, Andrew, Danny, Cindy and Mickey. I have seventy-two first cousins. When I was growing up, there were...KIDS EVERYWHERE!
My family moved to Medford, Massachusetts when I was young. I went to elementary school at Mt. Trinity Academy, not far from where my publisher is located in Watertown, Massachusetts. I never wrote a book in elementary school, and we never kept journals. In the neighborhood where I grew up, almost every family had seven to nine children. I guess that you could say that there were...KIDS EVERYWHERE!
I went to high school at Boston College High School, a Jesuit all-boys school in downtown Boston. The priests and other teachers were really wonderful. I played football and ran track. I had a great high school experience and I think later it made my studies in college much easier. My sons Neil and Eric graduated from Boston College High School in 2001 and 2003. Neil was named after a teacher I had, Fr. Neil Callahan, S.J. I never wrote a book in high school, and I never wrote for the school newspaper. I was too shy and was afraid of what other kids would think.
After high school I went to Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. I majored in business, a subject that would help me later in life when I decided to publish my first book. At Georgetown, I met my wife, Linda. In college I was an average student and was captain of the Georgetown University Rugby Team. I never wrote for the college newspaper, and I never imaged writing books. A couple of years later, Linda and I got married and I started to work at an insurance company in Boston. During the first six years of being married, we had four kids. It seemed like there were...KIDS EVERYWHERE!
Today, we spend a lot of time with my 31 nieces and nephews...again...KIDS EVERYWHERE!
I learned valuable skills while talking to people, selling insurance and collecting money. When I came home from work, Linda would ask me to "read to the kids!" I loved reading to my kids and I learned to appreciate children's books. The first few books that we bought were alphabet books and counting books. "A" was always for Apple and "Z" was always for Zebra. One day I decided, "Hey, I can do this!" I had an idea. I would write an alphabet book about the Atlantic Ocean. I spent every summer at Peggotty Beach in Scituate, Massachusetts. I have great memories of lobstering, fishing, mossing, clamming and rowing in my dory.
My first book was written in 1985 when I was 32 years old. I came up with the idea, wrote it, designed it, researched it, edited it and my cousin, Frank Mazzola, Jr. illustrated it. I published it myself under the name of Peggotty Beach Books. What fun! It was first printed on July 7, 1986. I'll never forget that day. The book eventually became the #1 best selling book at the New England Aquarium. I was afraid that only my mother would like it. Teachers and kids told me they really liked my book.
While speaking in schools, teachers also told me they were looking for simple non-fiction nature books. It gave me the confidence to write more. My next book, "The Icky Bug Alphabet Book", has sold more than 1 million copies. My third book, "The Bird Alphabet Book" was voted one of the best books of the year by Birders World Magazine. I now have over twenty alphabet books. My goal has always been to write interesting, fact-filled, fun to read, beautifully illustrated color children's books. Thank you to all my illustrators: Ralph Masiello, Frank Mazzola, Jr., Rob Bolster, Edgar Stewart, Leslie
My family moved to Medford, Massachusetts when I was young. I went to elementary school at Mt. Trinity Academy, not far from where my publisher is located in Watertown, Massachusetts. I never wrote a book in elementary school, and we never kept journals. In the neighborhood where I grew up, almost every family had seven to nine children. I guess that you could say that there were...KIDS EVERYWHERE!
I went to high school at Boston College High School, a Jesuit all-boys school in downtown Boston. The priests and other teachers were really wonderful. I played football and ran track. I had a great high school experience and I think later it made my studies in college much easier. My sons Neil and Eric graduated from Boston College High School in 2001 and 2003. Neil was named after a teacher I had, Fr. Neil Callahan, S.J. I never wrote a book in high school, and I never wrote for the school newspaper. I was too shy and was afraid of what other kids would think.
After high school I went to Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. I majored in business, a subject that would help me later in life when I decided to publish my first book. At Georgetown, I met my wife, Linda. In college I was an average student and was captain of the Georgetown University Rugby Team. I never wrote for the college newspaper, and I never imaged writing books. A couple of years later, Linda and I got married and I started to work at an insurance company in Boston. During the first six years of being married, we had four kids. It seemed like there were...KIDS EVERYWHERE!
Today, we spend a lot of time with my 31 nieces and nephews...again...KIDS EVERYWHERE!
I learned valuable skills while talking to people, selling insurance and collecting money. When I came home from work, Linda would ask me to "read to the kids!" I loved reading to my kids and I learned to appreciate children's books. The first few books that we bought were alphabet books and counting books. "A" was always for Apple and "Z" was always for Zebra. One day I decided, "Hey, I can do this!" I had an idea. I would write an alphabet book about the Atlantic Ocean. I spent every summer at Peggotty Beach in Scituate, Massachusetts. I have great memories of lobstering, fishing, mossing, clamming and rowing in my dory.
My first book was written in 1985 when I was 32 years old. I came up with the idea, wrote it, designed it, researched it, edited it and my cousin, Frank Mazzola, Jr. illustrated it. I published it myself under the name of Peggotty Beach Books. What fun! It was first printed on July 7, 1986. I'll never forget that day. The book eventually became the #1 best selling book at the New England Aquarium. I was afraid that only my mother would like it. Teachers and kids told me they really liked my book.
While speaking in schools, teachers also told me they were looking for simple non-fiction nature books. It gave me the confidence to write more. My next book, "The Icky Bug Alphabet Book", has sold more than 1 million copies. My third book, "The Bird Alphabet Book" was voted one of the best books of the year by Birders World Magazine. I now have over twenty alphabet books. My goal has always been to write interesting, fact-filled, fun to read, beautifully illustrated color children's books. Thank you to all my illustrators: Ralph Masiello, Frank Mazzola, Jr., Rob Bolster, Edgar Stewart, Leslie
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
December 17, 2017
Butterfly Colors and Counting is just a simple board book—but a pretty perfect one. There are lovely paintings of colorful butterflies to count, increasing in number from 1-10 on each page.
If your child isn't attending to books or has deficits in pointing and 1:1 correspondence, but loves numbers and rote counting, don't overlook the simple benefits of easy-going counting concept board books even if in chronological years your child is "too old" for board books.
If your child isn't fussed about butterflies, that's fine. You should be able to find a board book as well done and as simple as this one with a different subject. I picked this one as an example, because it's visually pleasing, and I do happen to like that it also includes colors and their sight words. It's possible that this might be too many variables for some children; if so, it's easy to skip over saying the color.
Some further tips: When a child is new to 1:1 correspondence (and/or pointing), they may skip counting items because they aren't really counting, just reciting the memorized sequence of numbers (aka "counting by rote"). Using hand-over-hand prompting, move your child's finger from butterfly to butterfly, firmly touching each one and saying the numbers aloud with them. Quickly move past any attempt to count beyond the number you are working on and then praise your child's hard work, whatever that means for them!
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I review books for children from the perspective of a parent of kids with autism. The review above is part of a longer post of 15 great counting books: http://www.lineupthebooks.com/countin...
If your child isn't attending to books or has deficits in pointing and 1:1 correspondence, but loves numbers and rote counting, don't overlook the simple benefits of easy-going counting concept board books even if in chronological years your child is "too old" for board books.
If your child isn't fussed about butterflies, that's fine. You should be able to find a board book as well done and as simple as this one with a different subject. I picked this one as an example, because it's visually pleasing, and I do happen to like that it also includes colors and their sight words. It's possible that this might be too many variables for some children; if so, it's easy to skip over saying the color.
Some further tips: When a child is new to 1:1 correspondence (and/or pointing), they may skip counting items because they aren't really counting, just reciting the memorized sequence of numbers (aka "counting by rote"). Using hand-over-hand prompting, move your child's finger from butterfly to butterfly, firmly touching each one and saying the numbers aloud with them. Quickly move past any attempt to count beyond the number you are working on and then praise your child's hard work, whatever that means for them!
---
I review books for children from the perspective of a parent of kids with autism. The review above is part of a longer post of 15 great counting books: http://www.lineupthebooks.com/countin...
June 10, 2022
I think this book would work very well as a basic instruction to counting and color for early kindergarten. The book itself is very simple but provided valuable information in the form of essential counting skills. The other main subject area that this book could be used in is introducing different colors to students. I think this would work well since it visual representation that will help students remember their numbers and colors. The questions I would ask for this book would be simpler questions like “what number went with the color blue?”. This would address students’ comprehension skills along with ensuring that they know the corresponding numbers and colors. I think this book would be best incorporated in a lesson using manipulatives to help students build the correct understanding of how to count to ten.
November 28, 2023
This is a good book for younger children who are learning how to count and learning their colors. This is a book I would read to my daughter being that she is 2 years old. I think younger kids would enjoy this book more than older kids, its more of an early-age toddler book. I loved the pictures and colors in the book. I love how the author wrote the book including pictures to match up with the numbers of the objects. That gives children the opportunity to count the objects and learn the colors at the same time.
July 23, 2025
This book is lovely in its simplicity. 10 colors: ROYGBV, black, brown, white, and pink are represented, though not in rainbow order. The butterflies are clearly drawn and contrasted against different, mostly-solid colored backgrounds. Readers can point and count each one. For some reason the pink butterfly is not featured on the cover.
November 14, 2021
An extremely simply board book, this book just consists of pictures of colorful butterflies, 1-10. There's a list of the names of the butterflies on the back of the book, but a library sticker was covering half of them.
September 27, 2017
Josie x 8
April 5, 2018
Full of two of my favorite things, numbers and butterflies! All the butterflies are actual butterfly species, too (listed on the back cover). I love to flip the pages.
June 29, 2020
Good way to start out with learning numbers and colors.
June 30, 2023
I wish it had either focused more on the counting or just the butterfly information.
September 11, 2023
Best for kiddos that don't already know their colors.
September 25, 2023
Counting books
January 5, 2024
Cute board book of colors and butterflies.
April 8, 2024
Butterfly Colors and Counting published in 2013 is for ages 4-6 and falls under counting books in the long. This fun and colorful book helps children count. 5/5
July 8, 2024
A good counting book with clear pictures and nice descriptions, but whoever chose the font should be shot.
October 16, 2014
Pallotta,J.,& Bersani,S.(2013).Butterfly colors and counting. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge Pub.
Counting
Butterfly, Color and Counting is a beautiful book that not only teaches colors but counting as well. The text is short and to the point, with the number written as a word and numeral on each page along with the name of each color. On each page, Bersani does an amazing job of painting life-like butterflies in contrasting colors to their backgrounds. This book would appeal to anyone with a young reader however I can not see myself putting it on my elementary classroom bookshelf.
July 5, 2017
A wonderful and quick book for the most young of readers that is derived from the Butterfly Counting Book. Due to it is meant to be a basic counting and colors book the reader is only given with the numbers for the counting portion as well as the beautifully colored butterflies although the names aren't included, which is a bit of a disappointment but understandable.
If you enjoy brightly colored butterflies or are in need of a wonderful book to help your little one than this is a true recommendation if you don't mind the missing information. Otherwise spend your money on the original and use that instead of buying two separate books.
If you enjoy brightly colored butterflies or are in need of a wonderful book to help your little one than this is a true recommendation if you don't mind the missing information. Otherwise spend your money on the original and use that instead of buying two separate books.
July 1, 2014
Despite being ten different pictures of butterflies, the novel avoids the usual pitfalls of similar books. The butterflies aren't simply cut and pasted like a massive battle scene from a blockbuster movie, but are clearly individually drawn. And, instead of just being a generic butterfly palette swapped through the rainbow like the combatants from Mortal Kombat, real distinct species are used. The pink-tipped clearwing satyr bears no resemblance to the cloudless sulphur, and it's illustrated beautifully.
November 1, 2013
The title says it all! Learn the colors and count the butterflies!
The illistrations are bright and beautiful! All the colors on the cover are shown and pink too! There are both the word of the color and the number on each page. Once the numbers get higher it's a little more difficult to count as the butterflies are not in a line. Great learning tool for colors and counting!
The illistrations are bright and beautiful! All the colors on the cover are shown and pink too! There are both the word of the color and the number on each page. Once the numbers get higher it's a little more difficult to count as the butterflies are not in a line. Great learning tool for colors and counting!
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September 21, 2015The purple is more indigo, in my opinion. I'm disappointed that the names of the various butterfly species are covered by the library label when there's plenty of empty space where the label could have gone, because I liked learning that these are real butterfly species.
March 13, 2013
Very pretty pictures.
March 22, 2013
For (very) young nature lovers.
January 6, 2014
A counting book. Suitable for babies or butterfly lovers.
November 2, 2013
Colors and counting. Two concepts done beautifully. I loved this book which is just perfect for reading to your little one.
September 28, 2013
So beautiful:)
December 20, 2013
Great book for little ones who like to "read" to themselves. My daughter goes back and forth through this book enjoying the colorful pictures and the easy to turn pages.
December 30, 2015
Beautiful pictures but it is quite literally ten different pictures of colored butterflies, counting from one to ten.
May 3, 2016
This one is all about the illustrations! Beautiful butterflies.
July 25, 2015
Not sure how to rate this one. I suppose it's good for its intended purpose.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews