The Making of Butterflies

Author

Zora Neale Hurston

Illustrator

Kah Yangni

Publication Date

March 07, 2023

Genre / Grade Band

Fiction / K − 1^st

Language

English

Format

Picture Book

Board Books

Description

A First Folktale from the creators of Magnolia Flower, Zora Neale Hurston and Ibram X. Kendi, about the origin of butterflies.

The Creator wuz all finished and thru makin' de world. But soon, the Creator finds themselves flying through the sky, making gorgeous butterflies of every color, shape, and size. Find out why butterflies were made in Zora Neale Hurston's stunning and layered African American folktale retold by #1 New York Times bestselling and National Book Award-winning author Ibram X. Kendi and illustrated by Kah Yangni.

This accessible and sizable board book is perfect for introducing the youngest of readers to the beauty of Hurston's storytelling and will spark curiosity in children about how things in our world came to be.

Publication date

March 07, 2023

Genre

Fiction

ISBN-13

9780063111585

Publisher

Amistad Books for Young Readers

BISAC categories

Library of Congress categories

African Americans
Folklore
Creation
Mythology
Butterflies
Board books
Illustrated works

Kirkus

The artwork creates an eye-catching collage of images in every spread... Kendi expertly distills this word-of-mouth tale for young readers... An old tale is given fresh new life.

None

Kendi (who previously adapted a Hurston short story in Magnolia Flower, rev. 11/22) preserves Hurston's use of Black English, and his closing note provides rich historical context about both Ebonics and the importance of Hurston's work as a folklorist.

School Library Journal

Starred Review

PreS-K--This adaptation by Kendi is poetic, vigilant, and gives the original words stature by amplifying the high notes for very young children. Caregivers will delight in the cadence, and babies in the colors that Yangni splashes across every page in a piece of folklore that threads readers from a genesis of sorts to an urban landscape full of flutter-byes. People of color, a world of verdant hues, rejoice in Hurston's butterfly-laden universe. Back matter explains this story's origins, a bit about Ebonics, and other historical notes to delight adults perusing this. VERDICT This will dance off the shelves by itself, but works for Black History Month, spring roundups, highlighting poems, or just a look at the lyrical.

Zora Neale Hurston

More books like this

The Making of Butterflies

Purchase eWallet Credit