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Serendipity
Flutterby
At first Flutterby, a small, white flying horse thinks she's an ant, a bee, or a butterfly, but learns she's a unique individual
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1978
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393 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
June 4, 2017
So cute!! I love Serendipity Books and the morals they share with the cutest characters.
August 22, 2018
Beautifully illustrated story.
March 12, 2017
I absolutely love everything about every book these two make. When I was a child, I would read these and they made me super happy. Every once in a while, when I need a cheering up or just for a fun and light read, I will read them. Who cares if I'm an adult?! I can have my preferences with cute little children's books too!
Anyway, they made my imagination what it is today, and I still look back at these books with happiness. Even though they are very short and yes sometimes sappy, they are a HUGE impact and could be a book with a million words!
Anyway, they made my imagination what it is today, and I still look back at these books with happiness. Even though they are very short and yes sometimes sappy, they are a HUGE impact and could be a book with a million words!
May 18, 2016
A sweet, short, fun little story about a confused baby Pegasus who doesn't know who or what she is at first. She tries to fit in with other animals, but simply isn't the same as others and so she feels isolated and alone. Until a wise old butterfly reveals to her that she's special and important because she is unique. Thus, all becomes right again with the world.
August 1, 2013
I rated every book that I read during childhood 5 stars.
Why? Well because that was a time in my life when I loved every single thing I read. And because they bring back fond memories. Ah, the joys of being young!
Why? Well because that was a time in my life when I loved every single thing I read. And because they bring back fond memories. Ah, the joys of being young!
February 26, 2018
This was my very first book, and I adore it!.. the story is so cute, about Flutterby discovering her place in the world.. it is magical, touching and incredibly sweet.. I still have my copy and I cherish it so... such a beautiful book!! It is also part of the serendipity series.
July 3, 2017
I loved how this book starts out: "In a burst of laughter and moonshine one fine and beautiful evening, Fluttterby was born". The author has an amazing way with words - so descriptive, so simple and so clear. And then to have them completed by such beautiful illustrations.
The plot has so many similarities with the original "Serendipity" although one is of the air and one is of the sea while the latter didn't emphasize this lesson although it was there.
The plot has so many similarities with the original "Serendipity" although one is of the air and one is of the sea while the latter didn't emphasize this lesson although it was there.
March 13, 2018
One of the pleasures of Shelfari is peering into other people's bookshelves and discovering new books, or re-discovering books you have forgotten.... but seeing the cover art for this book really brought me back to a time I had completely forgotten.
"Flutterby" is a book I read as such a small child that I had completely repressed it, until saw that little winged horse and it all came flooding back. Wow. I now realize where my later infatuation with Flicker and Black Beauty all started.
"Flutterby" is a book I read as such a small child that I had completely repressed it, until saw that little winged horse and it all came flooding back. Wow. I now realize where my later infatuation with Flicker and Black Beauty all started.
July 15, 2023
I think my copy is actually this one, but this edition has the correct cover image available.
The standard Serendipity book seems to go (each spread being text on the left, full-page illustration on the right):
Pages 1-2*: Establish the location (a physical place, or a place with certain contents, like a farm or a patch of forest full of bunnies).
Pages 3-4: Introduce the main character. (Sometimes this is stretched to pages 5-6.)
Pages 5-26 (or 7-26): Rest of story.
Last two pages: ALL CAPS POEM WITH MORAL
(Exception: Leo the Lop also has a sort of epilogue after the moral, which is on the next to last two pages.)
Flutterby breaks that pattern... or precedes it? I haven't read ALL the books, since I only recently learned there were others besides the two I owned, but this is the first one that doesn't strictly follow the same recipe, as it were.
Flutterby starts by hatching from her cocoon in the first two pages. She spends the next 24 pages trying to find out about herself, then the moral is on pages 27-28... but the moral isn't in ALL CAPS! :O
I'm not saying it's BAD as a result, just that, when I was a kid and I found patterns in things, I really wanted the patterns to keep going. I think I would've been irrationally upset that this book broke the pattern, even though it's a super cute book (despite Flutterby spending THREE illustrations just in the sky like on the cover, which feels like slightly lazy composition).
I think it's nevertheless a good book for young readers, especially ones that like (flying!!) horses! Definitely a fun read!
*I know how page numbering usually works. Most of the books don't have page numbers, though, and I'm counting actual story pages vs. the title page/copyright information/trailing blank pages, since I also have one of the collections.
The standard Serendipity book seems to go (each spread being text on the left, full-page illustration on the right):
Pages 1-2*: Establish the location (a physical place, or a place with certain contents, like a farm or a patch of forest full of bunnies).
Pages 3-4: Introduce the main character. (Sometimes this is stretched to pages 5-6.)
Pages 5-26 (or 7-26): Rest of story.
Last two pages: ALL CAPS POEM WITH MORAL
(Exception: Leo the Lop also has a sort of epilogue after the moral, which is on the next to last two pages.)
Flutterby breaks that pattern... or precedes it? I haven't read ALL the books, since I only recently learned there were others besides the two I owned, but this is the first one that doesn't strictly follow the same recipe, as it were.
Flutterby starts by hatching from her cocoon in the first two pages. She spends the next 24 pages trying to find out about herself, then the moral is on pages 27-28... but the moral isn't in ALL CAPS! :O
I'm not saying it's BAD as a result, just that, when I was a kid and I found patterns in things, I really wanted the patterns to keep going. I think I would've been irrationally upset that this book broke the pattern, even though it's a super cute book (despite Flutterby spending THREE illustrations just in the sky like on the cover, which feels like slightly lazy composition).
I think it's nevertheless a good book for young readers, especially ones that like (flying!!) horses! Definitely a fun read!
*I know how page numbering usually works. Most of the books don't have page numbers, though, and I'm counting actual story pages vs. the title page/copyright information/trailing blank pages, since I also have one of the collections.
May 6, 2023
Certain people would benefit today from the childish logic of this book. A pegasus is born a pegasus but because she doesn't know what she is, when she sees ants working, she believes herself to be an ant and so she begins to do all the things that ants do until the ants finally tell her she is not an ant. She does the same thing with honeybees and butterflies until finally, an old monarch butterfly tells her to just be herself instead of all of these other things which she clearly is not. Unfortunately, the ants, bees, and butterflies of today are too afraid to tell the truth to the misguided creature, and the Flutterbies of today are aggressive, needy, verbally assaultive, and unable to see the truth once it is pointed out to them.
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November 23, 2019Very wordy fr today's audiences. I thought this was a MLP book, but it's not. It's got a good moral of enjoying just being yourself, but its wordy and old fashioned. And easily confused with a different Flutterby.
May 5, 2020
read this is as a child and love it
May 10, 2020
This was one of my favorite books as a kid <3
February 10, 2021
This was very likely my favorite book during my early childhood. With lovely illustrations and an even better message, it's a classic for me.
May 29, 2021
This is a cute story for children with beautiful illustrations.
September 9, 2021
This is part of a series from the ‘70s (Serendipity). Colorful pictures and a little lesson in each story. About one paragraph a page alongside a full page picture.
July 18, 2022
This book is really cute, but I feel like someone along the way would have taken the time to actually try to help the poor thing! It does end on a sweet note though, and the art is very cute!
August 20, 2022
A short and sweet book about finding yourself
December 19, 2022
Illustrations are cute in that vintage style, but are frustratingly bad at relating to the story! No effort was made to even make what the story specifies is a monarch butterfly even have the right colour or shape of wings never mind patterning! Also don't expect to be able to use it even for basic outdoor education books because even the insects only have 4 legs.
The story meanwhile is.... fine. Nothing very special or memorable. Follows the standard 3 step formula which isn't a problem but felt forced and uninspired.
The story meanwhile is.... fine. Nothing very special or memorable. Follows the standard 3 step formula which isn't a problem but felt forced and uninspired.
December 21, 2023
I read this to my granddaughters. Cute with matching illustrations. I just wish she had of found her own kind.
November 10, 2025
This is a cute story. The pictures are adorable. I believe any young reader would enjoy this book 📙.
May 22, 2023
I remember loving the art as a kid and it has a nice message. Good kid's book.
March 4, 2017
These books are not as great as I remember them being, but they're still pretty cute. The lesson learned by Flutterby: Be who you are. Square pegs, round holes; that whole deal.
November 20, 2019
Not the best writing; I'd drop a star if I was being completely honest here, but this is a particularly nostalgic book for me, which is probably why I'd originally given it four stars. The illustrations bring back such fond memories. Similarly to Serendipity, Flutterby comes into the world not knowing who or what she is or what she should do with her life.
She follows a path similar to Are You My Mother? (which honestly does it better), trying to become an ant, then a bee, then a butterfly, before eventually discovering that all she needs to be is herself.
I always loved the illustrations of Flutterby trying to be an ant and getting stuck in the anthill. And really, how can you not get attached to this lovely little winged horse.
She follows a path similar to Are You My Mother? (which honestly does it better), trying to become an ant, then a bee, then a butterfly, before eventually discovering that all she needs to be is herself.
I always loved the illustrations of Flutterby trying to be an ant and getting stuck in the anthill. And really, how can you not get attached to this lovely little winged horse.
May 26, 2016
So I loved horses in general as a kid (who am I kidding, I still do) and a flying horse would've been the bestest best. I have the feeling that I loved this book purely for the illustrations when I was younger--but as an adult, I am underwhelmed. The illustrations are still pretty, but I have no real idea what the story is doing. Yes, it's about being yourself (whatever that may be), but Flutterby ends up alone. Good on her for keeping an eye out for frost, but can't she have some friends? And why is every other creature cruel to her when she's trying to figure out what she is? (And where the dickens are her parents, anyway?)
This is not one of the Serendipity books that translates well into adulthood, I'm afraid. I won't be keeping it for my inner child.
This is not one of the Serendipity books that translates well into adulthood, I'm afraid. I won't be keeping it for my inner child.
May 12, 2025
Basic plot: Flutterby discovers what makes her special.
I think I got my first Serendipity book through a Scholastic book order or book fair. I quickly became obsessed and collected a ton and a half of them as a child. I would spend hours just looking at the pictures because the art is simply gorgeous. The stories were whimsical and fun, and always ended with some sort of life lesson for kids. I kept reading these books long after other picture books had been set aside.
I think I got my first Serendipity book through a Scholastic book order or book fair. I quickly became obsessed and collected a ton and a half of them as a child. I would spend hours just looking at the pictures because the art is simply gorgeous. The stories were whimsical and fun, and always ended with some sort of life lesson for kids. I kept reading these books long after other picture books had been set aside.
February 18, 2016
As with the other Serendipity books that I have read, "Flutterby" deals with issues of self-discovery and making peace with simply being oneself.
Stephen Cosgrove writes with a light touch, yet manages to fit a good amount of meaning into the few pages that comprise most of his stories. Flutterby's journey to find out who she is and what she is meant to do will easily be identified with by any readers that have encountered similar situations in their own lives.
Stephen Cosgrove writes with a light touch, yet manages to fit a good amount of meaning into the few pages that comprise most of his stories. Flutterby's journey to find out who she is and what she is meant to do will easily be identified with by any readers that have encountered similar situations in their own lives.
October 21, 2011
OMG! I have been looking for this book for years. I had this when I was a little girl and I loved it so much. The illustrations are so beautiful. I used to want to have my very own Flutterby. I've searched and search for this book, and I have just this very minute found it and ordered it. I cannot wait to receive it.
February 23, 2012
I hated to read when I was young, the stories in childrens' books just never caught my interest unless it was about animals. Dr. Seuss, and Clifford the Big Red Dog were some other series' I like but still not as interesting as the Serendipity books. As well as zoobooks and non-fictional writing about animals.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews