The Life Cycles of Butterflies: From Egg to Maturity, a Visual Guide to 23 Common Garden Butterflies

by Judy Burris, Wayne Richards

For everyone who has ever marveled as a butterfly magically emerges from a chrysalis, this book is a treasure chest of amazing butterfly transformations. You are invited to experience the life cycles of  common backyard butterflies in this unique collection of hundreds of stunning, full-color, up-close photos, all taken in a live garden setting. Each butterfly is shown from start to maturity, with sequential photographs of the egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, and emerging butterfly . This richly visual guide to the life cycles of butterflies will appeal to wildlife enthusiasts, gardeners, teachers, and families alike.
This book has earned two national awards from Learning Magazine --
(1) Teacher's Choice Award for "Children's Books"
(2) Teacher's Choice Award for "Product of Excellence for the Family."

Genres: Science, Nature, Animals, Reference, Gardening, Nonfiction, Field Guides

160 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2006

About the author

Sister and brother naturalists Judy Burris and Wayne Richards from the Cincinnati area (northern Kentucky) are the authors and photographers of a brand new book called Nature's Notes. They also wrote The Secret Lives of Backyard Bugs, winner of the National Outdoor Book Award (NOBA) plus the Teacher's Choice Award for "Product of Excellence for the Family". Their first book The Life Cycles of Butterflies won the Teacher’s Choice Award for “Children’s Books” as well as “Product of Excellence for the Family.” Their articles and nature photography have been published worldwide in calendars, books, newspapers and magazines including Butterfly Gardener, Birds and Blooms, Nature's Garden, Better Homes and Gardens, Cincinnati Magazine, Kentucky Living, Garden Gate and Backyard Living.

Reviews

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great introduction to the life cycles of butterflies, filled with helpful photographs. The intended audience is older children, but, as a newbie butterfly-er (defined as person who is as entranced with butterflies as a birder is with birds) I found this book very helpful. Of the twenty-three garden butterflies that are highlighted, most are butterflies I have seen in my area.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Judy Burris and Wayne Richards write a guide to 23 common North American butterflies, based on their studies at their respective, home, butterfly gardens in Kentucky. The authors (and Christina Richards) provided the photographs. The guide is separated into four sections, including butterfly anatomy & physiology, butterfly life cycles, butterfly habitat gardening, and other locally observed butterflies & skippers. There is also a glossary, recommended books for further reading, and comparison guides (for eggs, caterpillars, and chrysalises). A future edition of this book should include sample layouts of the authors' butterfly gardens and other sample butterfly garden arrangements. While some readers might be overwhelmed by the information on 23 butterflies, or disappointed by either the lack of information in the additional butterfly and skippers section or the lack of scientific names, most readers should find this a generally helpful guide for North American (possibly, primarily, Midwest or Upland South) readers with a general knowledge of butterflies and an interest in prospective, home, butterfly gardening.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this title about butterflies written by a brother and sister team who have been studying nature since childhood. The authors reside in northern Kentucky on the Ohio River and the twenty three backyard butterflies are representative of the eastern United States. All photos are taken in live settings. The first twenty pages describe a butterfly’s life cycle. Next chapters focus on the the twenty three individual species. A chapter shows wonderful color photos of the life specific butterfly from egg, through various stages of the caterpillar to the chrysalis stage and finally the adult. Also included five or six field notes on the species, a range map, months of the species life cycle, and the feature I enjoyed most: photos of the host plants and photos of the nectar plants for that species. And finally a chapter on Butterfly gardening with more information on the host plants and the nectar plants with more great photos.
Glossary, references, and an index.
I love this one and hope to purchase it

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating up close look at the life cycles of many American butterflies with awesome photos! While I've read a few butterfly books and always learn something new, the material here is presented in a reader friendly manner and I've learned more from this book than any previous butterfly book I've read, including how to tell male from female and recognize look alike species! There are also recommended plants for each butterfly. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn about butterflies!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nonfiction. Outstanding photographs of all stages of life cycle in common garden butterflies: Very readable; also includes photos of host plants and nectar plants for each type of butterfly.

[Hallie Huffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great pictures! Covers host and nectar plants and breeding ranges. Photos from Northern Kentucky.

[Isha · Rating 5 out of 5]

So well done! Finally, a book that shows each butterfly’s whole cycle and host plants. This is a must for planning my landscaping.

[MsBrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Life 'Cycles of Butterflies' provides a primer for anyone interested in nature's most beautiful creatures. The introduction is thorough without being dull. The butterfly profiles are interesting and informative. Best of all the photographs are exquisite. Close up, detailed pictures of butterflies, eggs and chrysalises welcome the reader in each butterfly profile.

The end of the book includes some background info on the differences between butterflies and moths (long live lepidoptera!).

Finally the book concludes with an "Easy Comparison Guide" for eggs and caterpillars, encouraging the reader to take this book outside on an exploration at the nearest garden or meadow. Unfortunately the author overlooked having an "Easy Comparison Guide" for the butterflies themselves, forcing the amateur naturalist to peruse the entire book before stumbling on the butterfly at hand.

"The Life Cycles of Butterflies" is a great choice for naturalists of all ages.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very thorough guide to 23 common Eastern butterflies: it includes multiple photos of every stage, including each molting of the caterpillar so you can precisely identify the eggs and caterpillars you find.

I also love that it shows photos of the plants where you can find the eggs and caterpillars. (So that little weed in my yard is called a "plantain"!)

There's a chapter on butterfly habitat gardening, an intro chapter on the life cycle, and a cool comparison guide where you can look at all 23 eggs, caterpillars, and chrysalises side-by-side to figure out if that green caterpillar you found is a sulphur or a cabbage white.

The photos are gorgeous and the text enlightening without being overwhelming. I bought this for my 5-year-old for her birthday, as we were collecting and hatching three kinds of butterflies. It was perfect! If only it had MORE types!

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book for anyone interested in learning about butterflies. It's written by a brother and sister who are butterfly enthusiasts. It is packed full of easy to understand information, and loads of stunning pictures displaying the life cycle of 23 common butterflies from egg to maturity. Other helpful features are range maps and life-cycle timelines. There's a section on butterfly gardening that presents the host plants for each variety of butterfly and a little bit about how to grow them. They list popular nectar plants as well. I believe it's an indispensable resource for butterfly admirers.

[Andrea Retana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book will be significant for students because it will teach them the different stages or the Butterfly's life cycle. The pictures do a good job representing the different stages and difference between male and female butterflies. I believe it will be a good book to use in a science lesson about life cycles.


The Life Cycles of Butterflies,Judy Burries, Grade K-5, Life cycle of Butterflies and Teach how to create butterflies gardens.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a neat way to see lots of common butterflies in stages that I normally miss them in. My mom and I plan on combing the garden this year, looking for caterpillars. I did not particually enjoy the reading of this book. Their writing style was way to "peanut-gallery" commentary for me.

[Katheryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elaine gave this book to my dd and it is the best butterfly book that we have ever come across. It highlights butterflies in our Texas area but it also shows each life stage of each type of butterfly in beautiful photographs. It is great for identifying eggs, caterpillars, and pupae too!

[Michelle Higgins · Rating 3 out of 5]

I use this book during my unit on insects. My class actually gets Painted Lady caterpillars and we watch the different stages in the life cycle. The book does a great job of showing the life cycle and is a great resource to have if you are teaching about insects.

[Andria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably my favorite butterfly book of all times. It shows each stage and is very easy to read. The only thing that I wish is that it were small so I could take it with me. But it is perfect for identifying things in my sketches in my studio.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely book with fantastic images of butterflies through the life cycle. The title says it all.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful resource with helpful pictures for identification in the future. I want a second to keep in the camper.

[Bree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Notes:
fantastic large photos
too big to be a field guide, but excellent resource
host plants/nectar plants listed for each butterfly

[Margaret]

Excellent for life cycle and good photos - from Ramsey Co Library - Roseville

[emy · Rating 3 out of 5]

good book, nice pictures, butterflies rule.

[Willow]

We read a specific section of this book as recommended by one of our science books, and it piqued my interest in reading the rest of it sometime! Fascinating. Will have to get this from the library again when we have enough time to devote to it.