Goodnight, Butterfly

The Very Impatient Caterpillar #3

by Ross Burach

This laugh-out-loud companion to The Very Impatient Caterpillar and The Little Butterfly That Could is perfect for bedtime – or any time! A delightful complement to the classic, Goodnight, Moon!

Who needs to sleep at night anyway?

There’s so much I’d miss!

I’ll just be nocturnal too.

What do you think?

I think we need to get you back to sleep.

Readers will laugh themselves silly as they learn to find their inner calm so they can sleep -- even when they wake in the night -- and also discover the difference between nocturnal and diurnal animals.

Author, artist and cartoonist, Ross Burach, is a modern-day Mr. Rogers. With his signature sidesplitting humor, sensitivity, and heart, he addresses common social-emotional themes in the lives of young children: patience, persistence, confidence and mindfulness. He also weaves curriculum-friendly science topics, from metamorphosis to migration and beyond, into his stories, making them STEM and LEAF* friendly.

(*Laughter, Emotions, A little science, Friendship).

Genres: Picture Books, Humor, Animals, Childrens, Storytime, Nature, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published August 2, 2022

Reviews

[Tia]

This is such a cute story. The butterfly had my nerves on high while reading. Just like an inquisitive child asking 100 questions in 30 seconds in a high pitched voice. The porcupine was calm and kind to the butterfly.

Thank you to Scholastic for the advanced reader copy.

[Tegan]

Bless that porcupine's heart.

[Michele Knott]

Another hilarious addition to the series!

[S]

My child got this from the library. We read it and the kid enjoyed it.
It’s a typical children’s book nice art work with few words on the actual pages. The plot is okay nothing bad or positive, just… okay.
Would I read this again? Depends if my child wants to read it again and so far the kid says… No. I’ve asked several times over the last 7 days.

[Thompson McLeod]

Delightful, whimsical and laugh-out loud funny, young readers will empathize with Butterfly's silly questions and attempts to cheat sleep. Butterfly and Porcupine are two of the most lovable characters in a picture book. Ross Burach keeps kids laughing with his colorful illustrations of even more colorful character antics.

Butterfly wakes up when a porcupine chomps on his breakfast nearby. Porcupine explains he is "nocturnal," and Butterfly responds, "I know you're not a turtle!" Porcupine says it means he's opposite--he eats at night and sleeps in the day. This sets off a barrage of silly questions from ever quizzical Butterfly. He asks if Porcupine does EVERYTHING opposite.

This leads to a hilarious exchange between the two with exciting illustrations. Butterfly decides he, too, will be nocturnal and they can be best buds. He makes a "Big Plans List" for "BNFFs (Best Nocturnal Friends Forever)." As the night progresses, Butterfly gets more and more wound up. Porcupines suggests he sleep when Butterfly mistakes a pinecone for Porcupine--a captivating illustration by master Ross Burach! Finally, Porcupine teaches Butterfly how to relax and put himself to sleep with happy thoughts.

This picture book is bound to be a bedtime favorite as most youngsters will see themselves in Butterfly: too restless to sleep and too energetic to give in to slumber.

Highly, highly recommended for every child's bookshelf. This book's a real winner! Ages 3-8.

[Stephanie Bange]

Reviewed from a full-color ARC from Scholastic.

A companion book to Burach's The Very Impatient Caterpillar and The Little Butterfly That Could (both from Scholastic), this one is an homage to Margaret Wise Brown's Goodnight, Moon. When Butterfly is awakened by Hedgehog's munching on a tree, he learns about all the things that happen in the woods after he goes asleep, when nocturnal animals are busy.

Burach rendered the artwork using pencil, crayon acrylic paint, and digital coloring. The bright neon colors of Butterfly stand out on the dark blue and brown of the night. They add much to the humor of the book with multiple sight gags.

Add this to studies of diurnal/nocturnal animals, butterflies, and humorous stories.

Recommended for PreShool-grade 3.

[Amy Oberts]

“Goodnight, Butterfly” is the third story of the caterpillar/butterfly series created by Ross Burach. This installment does not disappoint, and the fast-paced dialogue between Butterfly and Porcupine is visually distinguished using different colored speech bubbles. Throw in a dash of science (contrasting nocturnal/diurnal animals) and a pinch of self-regulation (preparing/settling for sleep), and this is a recipe for a terrific bedtime tale.

Publication Date: 2022
Format: Picture book
Elements: Dialogue (speech bubbles), humor, hyperbole
Connection/Topics: Nightly routines, friendship, contrasting animals (nocturnal/diurnal)

[Rose Rosetree]

Did you LOVE "The Very Impatient Caterpillar'?
Did you maybe ADORE "Goodnight Moon"? Do you think a grumpy parody would be even better than the gentle, beloved children's classic?

Then lucky you, folks, because Ross Burach has a big treat in store.

With his signature style, this book delivers over-the top, smart-mouth, duh! style humor... galore.

I'd recommend reading this picture book aloud, so you can do justice to all the screamingly ornery dialog.

In honor of readers who have been waiting impatiently for another book like "Impatient," of course, I'll give this book FIVE STARS.

Caution: Other readers might want to avoid even looking too closely at the cover.

[Katie Hutchison Irion]

Goodnight, Butterfly by Ross Burach is a continuation of the delightful books by Burach about a butterfly and all of his questions about the world. This time, the butterfly wakes up in the middle of the night and meets a porcupine. He is astonished that there are animals that sleep during the day and eat breakfast in the middle of the night. He has a TON of questions for the porcupine and, per usual, he will not stop talking until he gets answers! He is filled with personality and, I find, so much fun to read out loud. He is quirky and curious and dying to know everything about everything. I adore these books and so do my kids.

[Pam]

I received an electronic ARC from Scholastic, Inc.
The butterfly is back and this time can't sleep. He get woken up when a porcupine starts eating their breakfast in the same tree. Readers see him react and overreact as they have come to expect in Burach's books about this character. The illustrations are lovely and full of humorous details. The dialogue offers fun, humor and a message underneath the fun.

[Lisa]

Butterfly is woken up by Porcupine and learns what it means to be nocturnal. When Butterfly is too anxious to fall back asleep, Porcupine offers some advice that helps. Butterfly's questions and antics are humorous and there is a fun twist at the end. Being a follow-up to The Very Impatient Caterpillar and The Little Butterfly That Could, readers will be glad to see the return of the amusing butterfly.

[Roben]

Such a cute book! Butterfly is sound asleep when suddenly, there's a noise! Now wide awake, butterfly sets out to discover who is making that noise - a nocturnal porcupine! Butterfly - as always - has SO MANY QUESTIONS! and also can't get back to sleep. Porcupine helps, though.

If you love the Burach's other Butterfly books, then you will love this one also! Who hasn't had trouble going to sleep at some point? Plus kids will reinforce the concept of nocturnal.

[Diane]

“Wait?? Does that mean you do EVERYTHING OPPOSITE?”

Butterfly is awakened by a nocturnal animal eating. Suddenly, Butterfly is wide awake and can’t get to sleep. So Butterfly decides to be nocturnal, as well. Hilarity ensues until, finally, Porcupine helps Butterfly relax enough to fall back asleep. “Think calming thoughts.”

This would make a fun read aloud or reader’s theater.

[Lindsay Ann]

What I loved most about this book are the possibilities in its use for a program. I think the dialogue in this book would work really well for a puppet show. Or, this books would be fun to read with two people during a storytime.

I will definitely be reading the other two books by this author :)

[Melanie Hetrick]

Butterfly is back in another hilarious story full of its incessant questions. This time they're bothering Porcupine who is eating breakfast in the middle of the night. That sets Butterfly off on a entire set of questions when they really should be sleeping.

Another storytime hit! Also a good book for bedtime.

[Patricia N. McLaughlin]

A porcupine patiently listens as a loquacious butterfly talks itself to sleep. Adult readers will enjoy the puns even though they’ll likely sail over the sleepy heads of wee ones. Adorable illustrations are full of vibrant color and lots of action. Excellent marketing of companion titles on the back cover.

[Villain E]

The butterfly gets accidently woken up by a porcupine. First the porcupine explains about noctunal animals, then very patiently tries to help the silly butterfly get back to sleep. My kids' favorite part is when the porcupine says a good book helps it sleep, so the butterfly tries to use the book as a blanket.

[Renee Taylor]

This funny bedtime story flips the usual routine on its head—what happens when you don’t want to go to sleep because you’d rather be nocturnal? Burach’s playful illustrations and humor make it a lighthearted read that kids will giggle through, while adults will appreciate the clever twist on bedtime resistance.

It’s silly, imaginative, and perfect for winding down with a smile.

[Bozhena Levine]

Absolutely adorable and fun, just like the other books in the series! Ross Burach has done it again. Thank you, Scholastic, for the advanced review copy of this delightful book! Can’t wait to share it with my students and my granddaughter!

[Molly Cluff (Library!)]

Another funny addition to the Very Impatient Caterpillar series--this one is less about butterfly lifecycles and more about nocturnal animals (as butterfly stays awake at night and meets a porcupine). Lots of funny lines.

[AMY]

This is a silly book. Very silly. But kids may like it. The butterfly is having trouble getting to sleep with all the noise at night. The illustrations and conversation bubbles will keep a kid engaged for a while. There are some silly conversations throughout. Recommended for Grades K-2.

[E]

Cute and funny picture book. And I learned something I didn’t know, Butterflies don’t have eyelids! Kids will have a ball with this crazy (and informative) conversation between Butterfly and Porcupine.

[Lauri Meyers]

When butterfly is woken up by a gnawing porcupine, he learns what it means to be nocturnal. But he has questions, lots of questions! So many questions that he may never sleep again, luckily porcupine is a good friend here to help.

[Darlena Glenn]

Ross Burach has done it again! This book is fabulous! It's fun, it's interesting, and it keeps you attention from start to end--I'd call it a page-turner!

[Brenda Kahn]

Mr. Baruch continues his riff on children's classics with this third installment featuring an anxious, neurotic butterfly. This time, he can't sleep.

[Julie Culver]

I liked this book. It was very funny. And something I can read to my kids to help them go to sleep.

[Kristina]

I thought that this was a cute book. It is a follow up with the Caterpillar book. I thought that it was funny as well. My students were cracking up. I would recommend this book to others.

[DiAnne Warfield]

Holt-Delhi PJ story time 08-10-2022

[Lisa D]

Loved it!

[kim]

cute but this series is getting a bit old