Saving the Butterfly

by Helen Cooper, Gill Smith (Illustrator)

Two resourceful siblings begin a new life as refugees in a poetic picture book about thriving—in your own time—after great loss.

From an award-winning author and a talented debut illustrator comes a profound story about child refugees healing and building new lives. When rescuers meet the boat, there are only two people left—a big child and a little one. The big one, remembering the trip across the dark sea, hides indoors. The little one ventures out, making friends, laughing, growing strong. When he brings the outside in, in the form of a butterfly, will his sister find the courage to guide the winged creature back into the world where it belongs? Powerful illustrations dance between dark and light in a moving tale of empathy, resilience, and the universal need for home and safety.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Family

32 pages, Hardcover

Published June 21, 2022

About the author

Helen Sonia Cooper is a British illustrator and an author of children's literature. She grew up in Cumbria, where she practiced literature and piano playing. She currently lives in Oxford.
Cooper has twice been awarded the Kate Greenaway Medal from the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP), recognising the year's best children's book illustration by a British subject. She won for The Baby Who Wouldn't Go To Bed in 1996, which she wrote and illustrated. In 1998 she won for Pumpkin Soup, which she also wrote and illustrated. They were consecutive projects for her.
Beside winning the two Greenaway Medals (no one has won three), Cooper made the shortlist for The Bear Under the Stairs (Doubleday, 1993) and Tatty Ratty (Doubleday, 2001).
As well as her solo picture books, Cooper writes picture book texts for other illustrators, and also illustrates her own middle grade fiction - most recently, The Taming of the Cat' published by Faber and Faber in the UK.
WorldCat reports that Pumpkin Soup is her work most widely held in participating libraries.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See here for more details

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

With Saving the Butterfly (which was on the long list for the 2023 Kate Greenaway Medal but unfortunately did not make it to the short list), author Helen Cooper evocatively and with subdued but ever-present textual emotionality shows two young (and anonymous) refugees (a little boy and his slightly older sister) who are the only survivors when the boat they are on runs into trouble at sea, and how each sibling experiences the aftermath of their journey and of being rescued, of suddenly being alone in the world very differently, with the younger child, with the boy almost immediately embracing their new reality as refugees, venturing out, making new friends (basically still managing to be celebrating life), whereas the older sister is not only much more hesitant, deeply traumatised and depressed but is also shown by Cooper as having more painful memories of the past, more all encompassing culture shock and so much homesickness that she basically refuses to go outside and hides herself away.

But things do finally begin to change a bit for the better when the young boy, when the brother brings a butterfly to his sister (inside) and she realises that she has to leave the house in order to rescue, in order to set the butterfly free outside (hence the book title being Saving the Butterfly), a big and important step forward for the girl to take and demonstrating that her taking responsibility for the butterfly's welfare is also a symbol of hope and that she might henceforth also be willing to start to embrace life again and to also maybe join her brother outside to explore, to make friends, to live and play instead of just existing and vegetating away (and yes, even if Saving the Butterfly basically shows mostly so-called baby steps being taken, these baby steps nevertheless are important, necessary and totally, absolutely essential).

Emotionally powerful but also gentle, Saving the Butterfly is engaging, both sad and hopeful at the same time and with Helen Cooper's text humanising the refugee experience and also with the boy and girl remaining unnamed and readers not being given any information at all on ethnic origin and/or how and why the two children have become refugees giving a delightful and appreciated universality to Saving the Butterfly and showing that refugees are refugees and that their experiences are collectively speaking often very globally similar (and that while some children are resilient and are able to deal with trauma with comparative ease, other children are more lastingly and more painfully affected and experience disconnection, depression and major sadness, as well as a need to become rather like hermits).

And finally, with regard to Gill Smith's artwork for Saving the Butterfly, her mixed media illustrations do a really great job emotionally and aesthetically mirroring Helen Cooper's story (and vice versa), with the generally dark hues visually corresponding to the older sister's feelings of isolation, loss and uncertainty and how the occasional bright splashes of colour (including the butterfly that is requiring "saving") represent courage and hope for a possible somewhat brighter and more optimistic future for brother and sister, a lovely combination of text and images, and that yes, both my adult self and also my inner child are finding Saving the Butterfly enchanting, encouraging and also nicely but not every preachily thought-provoking, solidly engaging and also nicely child friendly (and with the anonymity of Saving the Butterfly demonstrating that refugees come from many areas, from many countries and that their stories and experiences are not only personal, not only individual but also global and as such general).

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This didn't feel like a kids book so the rating is as an adult. I read this less as a refugee story and more of a struggling with depression/connection book and it was beautiful and gentle.

[Aolund · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book didn't do it for me. Written by an author who is not a refugee, it is about two refugee children who are rescued from their small boat after almost drowning and are "given a broken house" in which to live in a refugee camp, apparently alone. This is all the details given of their experience—where they are from, what they were fleeing, or even their identity as refugees is never mentioned in the book. The younger child adapts to their new life fairly quickly, but the older one struggles with trauma and depression (at least, this is my interpretation) until her sibling gives her a butterfly, and the process of letting it free kind of magically allows her to heal? I think this book is trying to be like Nicola Davies' The Day War Came, but it's less successfully realized and won't be one I'm recommending.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A deeply emotional, affecting story about two refugee siblings helping one another cope with their trauma and build new lives.

[Shane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a gorgeously illustrated tale that looks at the trauma suffered by two refugee siblings and how they help each other to start to overcome it I adored the illustrations and the way it depicted how trauma can effect different people in different ways. How it may lead to anxiousness and depression and that thinking beyond yourself may help. I would have liked to explore a little more there. 3.5 stars.

[Lisa]

Saving the Butterfly is a new release from February this year and a poignant book right now when we need to be opening our arms to support those in need. The book is beautifully illustrated and you could be fooled into thinking this book could be on a very different subject matter if it wasn't for darkness in the top left corner of the book and the wire.

This book gives a simplified look at a brother and sister displaced and being refugees. The little boy is young and finding it easier to move forward but the older sister remembers and finds it difficult to emerge from the shroud of darkness she feels is swallowing her.

I've read a mixture of reviews on Saving the Butterfly. One review was how the plight, horrors and challenges of what refugees face is over simplified in this book. For me I see the book as a small opening into a world that the majority of our children are very sheltered from, yet giving opportunity for children to discuss their thoughts and feelings in response to the text.

We won this book on a Toppsta giveaway. One of my fellow Toppsta reviewers wrote a great review about how this book leaves you with lots of questions rather than answers. I totally agree, the big question for me was where have they come from.

Writing for children, especially for young children, is incredibly challenging when dealing with complex issues. Does this book go into depth on refugees, no. Does this book open up opportunities for children to discuss their thoughts and feelings related to their experience of what they have witnessed, seen or heard, absolutely.

If this is a book being read in schools then it would be important to understand your audience and the lived experiences of the listener or their family and friends.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story of refugees and PTSD told in a way understandable for primary aged readers / listeners.

[Wade Huggins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Saving the Butterfly is a story about two small children refugees whose small boat is wrecked and they are saved by people on shore. The older child has difficulty adjusting to losing her family and the trauma of being a refugee. The younger child with the aid of a butterfly slowly helps the older sibling cope with being shipwrecked and losing her family members. The illustrations contain many gray tones with a splash of color provided by the butterfly and a rainbow. The story is interesting but may be thought of as sad by some children. The story has a happy ending with the children working together.

[Israa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Edelweiss for an advanced copy. This is a nameless, country-less refugee story, which makes it more universal. While written for younger children, I'm not sure they would understand the moral or lesson or what a butterfly has to do with refugees or helping people to overcome such big feelings. The illustrations are beautiful, but I feel like more discussion is needed so that children can truly appreciate the meaning of the story.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a tough title to read about a brother and sister refuge and after their rescue the sister has difficulty returning to childhood life. While this is a very sad story, the illustrations swirl and move over the pages and are very beautiful. I suggest that a child needs to experience this title with a trusted adult as undoubtedly there will be many questions a child could possibly. Definitely not your typical picture book theme.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful picture book about two siblings arriving in a boat, alone from someplace and rescued/taken in by people (in a refugee camp??) The older child is traumatized by the trip they remember, where as the younger one moves easily into camp life. A butterfly's sudden appearance draws the older sibling outside.

[Panda Incognito · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are far better books about the refugee crisis. This one is overly vague and metaphorical, and even though it is common for a younger child to be more resilient and adaptable than an older one, this story suggests that kids will only be traumatized if they're old enough to remember things in detail, and that's not true.

[Tabrizia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Edelweiss and Candlewick Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Beautifully illustrated and heartfelt story, the is one enjoyable story that illustrates empathy and resilience intertwined with such a realistic story.

[Tina Hoggatt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two refugee children find safety and friendship but the older one, haunted by all she's lost, finds refuge in the dark (both literal and figurative). A butterfly allows her to step out into the light of the present. Lovely illustrations by Gill Smith.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful book both in imagery and the story of two children and the different ways they worked through trauma to grow. Shows that time can heal wounds given the chance.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

A touching story about two sibling refugees. No one should have to start their young lives like this. Butterflies do give us hope.

[Dorthe Svendsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

En fin starter for å snakke om det å flykte, det å være lei seg, det å være lukket og åpen. Det at ting kan ta tid. Tror den kan være fin å lese for de som kan kjenne seg igjen.

[Reading Kittens · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story is weird, I don't quite think it accomplishes all that it sets out to do. illustrations are good though.

[PottWab Regional Library]

E

[Zazie · Rating 1 out of 5]

horribly boring

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

28/01/25 ~ 28/01/25
"She wasn’t ready to go, but would she ever be?”
A truly amazing story about the journey of a refugee and overcoming her grief. Truly eye-opening and definitely amazing representation for all children.

[Christie Kaaland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple narrative are complemented by detailed and abstract illustrations share the story of the narrator's story of immigrating between Kuwait and New Mexico, USA. Many of the issues around both immigration and the complication of statelessness (her father) are detailed in the back matter.

[Mary Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This gentle, yet powerful story brings to light the plight of children caught in horrific situations; situations that are all too pertinent today, but that have been going on…almost forever. In its’ poignant, poetic text, we are given the depth of childrens’ feelings, the emotions generated by their circumstances. It is easy to see how children absorb the fear and terror of the greater world. How they could carry that anxiety forward into the rest of their lives; how we have done as grown-ups. But…and this is the most important “but,” we see how the smallest of things can hand us a huge lesson on how to go forward; to the joy we discover when we do. This is a story about love, survival, resilience, how to find strength and courage even when it seems long gone.
This extraordinary, quiet book tells the story of what it’s like to be children and refugees left alone in the world. Fluid, exquisite both in its’ storytelling and illustrations, moving, freeing and hopeful. And with this story, the world begins to feel a little less uncertain.

[Andréa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.