The Mystery of the Monarchs

by Barb Rosenstock

A gorgeous picture book based on the true story of a scientist who solves the mysteries of monarch butterfly migration—with the help of schoolchildren! A perfect story for nature lovers of all ages from the Caldecott Honor winning author of The Noisy Paint Box

Young Fred Urquhart was fascinated by insects, especially his favorite, the monarchbutterfly. He wondered where monarchs spent the winter. No one knew. After he became an entomologist (bug scientist),Fred and his wife, Norah,tagged hundreds of butterflies,hoping to solve the mysteryof the monarchs. But they soon discovered that they needed help. They started a “butterfly family,” a community of children, teachers, and nature enthusiasts fromthree countries––Canada, the United States,and Mexico––to answer the  Where do the monarchs go?
 
Detailed materials in the back of the book include maps of monarch migration, the life cycle of the butterfly, and the cultural relevance of monarch butterflies in Mexico, as well as information on environmental efforts towards monarch conservation.

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Nature, Science, Childrens, Animals, Biography

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2022

Reviews

[Kellee Moye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barb Rosenstock again takes us inside the minds of historical figures to show us motivations for earth changing events, this time we meet Fred and Norah Urquhart, an entomologist and zoologist couple, who asked a question and were going to do whatever was necessary to find the answer. But it was only through help of others throughout the continent that they could have ever gotten the answer! Barb Rosenstock does a wonderful job with the Urquharts story, keeping the reader on their toes while you wonder where the monarchs go, and Meza’s illustrations are a perfect companion to the topic of monarchs: full of life and color. And do not miss the back matter which digs deeper into the science and research introduced in the book.

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story behind how the location where monarch butterflies wintered. As a former bug collector, I thought this was a great book.

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever wondered where the Monarchs go when our North America weather turns from summer to fall and then to winter? Perhaps you have assumed that their lives end as the seasons turn. But that is not what happens to the last generation of Monarchs to be born late in the summer. They migrate as far as 3,000 miles. A man named Fred Urquhart grew up in Toronto. He wanted to solve the mystery of the Monarch and spend 50 years trying to track the butterflies and discover what happens to them when summer ends. This book tells the story of him and his wife Norah. It also includes extra material about butterfly life cycles, generations, a special Monarch tagged PS 397, and more. Informative and inspiring.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of the monarchs is one of my favorite topics on any book level-we have fringes of the migrating butterflys that visit here in SWKS every fall. Beautiful. How can these fragile creatures purposefully travel thousands of miles? One of many testaments to the truth of a purposeful Creator.

[Vanessa Lecaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love insects this book is for you. It’s a child’s book about how scientists tracked the monarch butterfly migration. Well written

[Severin · Rating 5 out of 5]

a wonderful book about were monarch butterfly's go

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This inspiring story of perseverance--3.5, almost a 4 for me--relies on handsome illustrations created with acrylic gouache, watercolor, ink, coffee, and pastel paints, all combined through Photoshop to describe how regular individuals aided scientists in unraveling the mystery behind where monarch butterflies go when temperatures drop. Entomologist Fred Urquhart's curiosity about this question led him to spend more than forty years on their trail. Fred and his wife Norah tagged the butterflies in hopes that others would find them and contact them so that they could record their range and answer that mystery. After publicizing their efforts in journals and newspapers, the couple received help, largely from teachers and students, from all across the country as well as in Mexico. Another adventurous couple joined their project, and after driving through parts of Mexico and talking to locals, the mystery that had consumed Fred for 50 years was solved. The butterflies were wintering in the mountains of Michoacan. Readers will be caught up in the chase and feel some of the relief Fred and Norah must have felt when they arrived in that forest and saw that tagged butterfly. If anyone doubts that Citizen Scientists can make a contribution to environmental science or a project such as this one, they might change their mind after reading this true story. There are several pages featuring those butterflies as well as interesting and informative back matter, including an Author's Note, an Illustrator's Note describing the involvement of locals in finding a way to peacefully coexist with the butterflies while also making a living, a discussion of the butterfly's life cycle, range, and generations, and a photo and a brief discussion of the Minnesota teacher and junior high students who tagged the butterfly that Fred Urquhart found when he traveled to Mexico. Information about the threats to these beautiful creatures is also provided as well as suggestions for how readers can help. In today's world where attention spans seem to be decreasing constantly, it's encouraging to read about one man's single-minded pursuit of an important goal and all those who rallied around him.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fred Urquhart grew up studying insects, butterflies and at one point echoed a mystery voiced by so many—Where do the monarch butterflies go during the winter? Joined by his wife and fellow entomologist Norah, the two set out to tag and research that very question and after the participation of “4,000 amateur scientists, 300,000 tagged monarchs, 3,800 news articles in multiple languages, and 40 years of scientific research,” (backmatter; author’s note) the couple discovered a cool forest in the mountains west of Mexico City filled with millions of monarchs covering the bark of fir trees.

Author Barb Rosenstock presents the story in traditional picture book format with only 3 or 4 sentences per page and gorgeous illustrations supplementing and aiding comprehension of the text. Illustrations were “created using acrylic gouache, watercolor, ink, coffee splashes, and pastel pencils, before using Photoshop to tie it all up.” (CIP page) The age range is extended with back matter that adds to the details of the decades long research, more specific information about locations of monarchs during summer and then after migration to warmer climes in winter, detailed information with photographs of the butterfly’s life cycle, and participation by a Minnesota public school team in tagging monarchs. Also included in information about preserving monarch populations and joining a butterfly citizen science program called Journey North.

Outstanding book for non-fiction sections in libraries serving grades 2-6 and a 2024-2025 Texas Bluebonnet nominee.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations to compliment a unique story about the efforts to chart the migratory journey of Monarch butterflies.

This book would be a fantastic read-aloud for an upper elementary science unit.

[Colette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations, lovely story and quest to find out where the monarch butterflies go. Loads of information and notes.

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's only been since 1976 that we know where the monarchs migrate to in the world. Before that, it was a total mystery. The world was not a close back then. Fred Urquhart spent 50 years of his career trying to find out where the monarchs went in the winter. 50 years. That is some patience I can't fathom, really. I mean wow. I have pretty good patience, but I'm not going to pursue a question for 50 years, I don't think, which is why Fred figured it out.

Fred began asking this question at age 16. It took 4,000 amature scientists, 300,000 tagged monarchs and 3,800 news articles and 40 years of scientific research to find the answer, which we did. It was a national effort. Fred lives in Toronto Canada. Monarchs that the longest migration in the world. These are all facts from the back of the book. The story is much better.

The artwork was great, full of energy and color. They used acrylic gouache, watercolor, ink, coffee splashes and pastel pencils before photoshop brought it all together. The little butterflies are so pretty in this one.

The saddest thing in the back was saying that in the last 24 years, the population of Monarchs has shrunk by 80%. Scary. I remember a few years back, there were stories showing millions of Monarchs falling dead off the trees. It was one of the saddest things I've seen.

Now, I won't to go and see this place. It would have to be wondrous. Any kid interested in nature, science or butterflies will love this book. I learned several things myself.

[Christie Kaaland · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of bug man Fred Urqhhart, and his favorite butterfly, the Monarch. Even as a child, Fred gathered specimens of insects and read constantly about the in particular monarch butterflies. He contacted a professional, a professor, to ask where the monarchs migrate to. Even the professor did not know, it was a mystery that Fred wanted to solve.
Fred too became a university entomology researcher, labeling their wings to try to track their migration. He tagged them for 10 years! He and his wife Nora developed a lightweight numbered waterproof tag to track the monarchs. They begin to keep track of correspondence from people who shared their discovery of the tagged butterflies. Finally, with the help of others interested in the migration, Ken and Nora finally discovered a forest of mystery, Catalina, where hundreds, thousands of monarchs were discovered.

[Read Ribbet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barbara Rosenstock who has written excellent picture book biographies of artists including the Caldecott Honor book The Noisy Paint Box is Back with a book that shows how the mystery of the monarch migration was documented. She starts her true story with the questions of a young boy Fred Urquhart who grows up to become an entomologist and with the help of his wife Norah discover a way to track monarchs. They enlist the help of volunteer citizen scientists from around the world to solve the mystery of monarch migration. The book is an excellent example of the power of questions and strategies for inquiry. The book adds additional information in its endnotes including a call to action to help monarchs. Additional references are identified at the end of the book.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful and well told story based on the real story of the man who wondered where the monarchs went in the winter. He became a scientist and he developed a way to tag the butterflies. He tried for many years to enlist the help of other scientists but not until his wife had the idea to enlist the help of the public and school children did this idea take hold. The researcher was able over like 50 years to track the movement of the monarch and finally discover their secret winter home in a small village in Mexico.

[The Loco Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Barb Rosenstock writes about the big mystery: where do monarch butterflies go? Scientists one time did not know the answer. This book tells the story of how this question was answered, the mystery solved once and for all. Fred Urquhart and Norah Patterson, and the help of teachers and students across the United States, worked tirelessly to tag butterflies and track their locations. Eventually, the pair was led to Mexico, and the mystery was revealed! With whimsical illustrations and a detailed narrative of the search, readers will find the answers to this question exciting and intriguing.

[Jonelle McIntyre · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Mystery of Monarchs by Barb Rosenstock was a great read—very informative and engaging. Last semester, I had a class where people did projects on monarch butterflies, but this book gave even more substance and detail than I expected. I wouldn’t read it to my niece, who is only five, because it seems like too much information for her age. While the illustrations are pretty, younger children might get lost in the middle and lose interest. For older kids, though, it’s an excellent mix of facts and storytelling.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and informative picture book. My daughter enjoyed this tale of one man's quest to track the migration path of the monarch butterfly. The book follows along the years it took, and many people (citizen scientists throughout North America) to find the answers he was seeking. There are several picture books on this topic, and while this one is good, it was not our favorite (for that, read Winged Wonders).

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fascinating read. I can't imagine trying to find the answer to something for almost 50 years; what dedication! I was disappointed that the end notes didn't include more information on the Urquharts, especially since most of the book was focused on their work. This is part of the Texas Bluebonnet reading list for 3rd-6th graders, and I think it will be a favorite of my students. Excited to share it with them!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful picture book explaining how Fred and Nora Urquhart pursued their curiosity about where Monarch butterflies went in the winter. An amazing story with a wonderful tie-in to three Minnesotans. Teacher, Jim Gilbert, and two of his students, Dean Boen and Jim Street, had tagged Monarch butterflies at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Their butterflies, tagged on September 6, 1975, were found on Cerro Pelon in Mexico on January 18, 1976!

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This picture book is expertly crafted with pacing, plot, and emotion. I kept turning the page waiting (hoping) for the answer to the question: where do the monarchs go? In this age of instant knowledge and access to almost anyone and anywhere in the world, I found myself immersed in this scientific mystery and marveling at the dedication and wonder of Fred and Norah Urquhart.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Following the illustrated story are six pages of photos and more in depth information in author and illustrator notes, life cycles, generations, and the three people who tagged PS 397 in northern Minnesota, which was then identified in Mexico by Fred Urquhart on January 18, 1976, finally answering his research question.

[Marina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely overview of how one person’s question inspired a lifetime of research, and led to our understanding of the monarch migration.

My one critique - “But no one had ever seen millions of monarchs in winter.” Plenty of people had, just none Fred contacted. Perhaps a slight change “But no one Fred contacted had ever seen millions of monarchs in winter”.

Recommend for school library purchase

[Alissa Faust · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great picture book about the discovery of the migration of monarchs. I loved that it showed the person was interested in studying bugs as a child and from asking a simple question, it led them to a lifetime of searching and discovery. Great pictures, and pages at the end with real photos to give further history.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you know where the monarch butterflies go? Neither did Fred and Norah! And guess who helped them find out? Kids, teachers, and citizens all over the continent!

A nonfiction book that is both heartwarming and informative. I love how the story of Fred and Norah unfolds.

Will they find out where the monarchs go? Find a young reader to read this with and then both of you will find out!

[D'Anne Mosby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fred loved butterflies. Especially the monarch butterflies. But for most of Fred’s life, no one knew where the monarch migrated to in the winter months. Fred was the scientist that found a way to track them and find their winter hideaway. This biography reads like a story. Read to find out where the monarchs go.

[Bethe · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young boy wonders where the monarch butterflies go but no one knows. He becomes an entomologist and after many years of tagging and studying butterflies, with the help of many amateur scientists, he finds their winter destination in Mexico. Lots of back matter included. Wish the font was larger.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of how Norah and Fred Urquhart recruited citizen scientists to try to track Monarch butterflies to answer the question "Where do they go?"

Includes an Author's and Illustrator's note with additional information as well as a list of resources for further reading.

[M.A.Stanglfam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story. Love the patience required in answering one question. Love all the teamwork needed for the answer to come about and discovery of how the monarch pattern is. We learned new things too!

[Brittany Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I loved most about this book was that it told how Fred Urquhart wanted to know where the monarchs go fall and what he did to find out! The book is beautifully illustrated and is also a Texas blue bonnet nominee for 20240-205!

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I ever take the time to work on writing picture books, this is the kind of book I want to write. Beautiful prose telling a fascinating story about a man's lifelong (truly) quest to find out where the butterflies go.