The Butterfly's Treasure [Hardcover]

Schim Schimmel (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

It is easy to forget that this planet with its abundance of life is truly a unique treasure in the universe. But this is exactly what an old, world-wise monarch butterfly has learned. Now he wants to pass his wisdom along to a young caterpillar.

Through exquisite artwork and engaging storytelling, artist/author Schim Schimmel takes us on the old monarch's year-long journey as he encounters some of earth's most amazing animals.

Editorial Reviews

Review

An exquisite fairy tale told by a master artist. It tells of an enchanted journey made by a magic Monarch. Schim's exquisitely crafted pictures will enchant children. The story will help them to love and respect the amazing animals with whom we share the planet - the Treasures that are all around us if we would but open our eyes....

Jane Goodall PhD, DBE
Founder the Jane Goodall Institute
& UN Messenger of Peace
--Jane Goodall PhD, DBE

About the Author

The message behind Schim Schimmel's artwork is the concept of planetary interdependency. All animals, all ecosystems, all people are intimately connected, says Schimmel, and together, make up this precious planet we call earth.

Schim Schimmel has been a full-time professional artist since 1987. His paintings and fine-art prints are marketed in Japan and the United States, and his images are licensed worldwide. He is the artist/author of six books including three children's books, and three art books of his collected works.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: SchimmelSmith Publishing (November 15, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0615295096
• ISBN-13: 978-0615295091
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #415,725 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #63 in Books > Children's Books > Sports & Games > Sports > Water Sports

More About the Author

Schim Schimmel is an internationally renowned artist/author whose artwork and books have been lovingly embraced world-wide for their beauty and environmental message.

Schimmel has been a full-time professional artist since 1987, having studied art with his father, a well known watercolorist and art instructor. Schimmel began showing his fine-art in Japan in 1991. In 1992 one of Japan's largest book publishers, Shogakukan, asked Schimmel if he would be interested in writing a children's book. "Dear Children of the Earth, A Letter from Home," was released in 1993 in Japan, and published the following year in the United States.

Since then, three more children's books by Schim Schimmel have been published: Children of the Earth...Remember; The Family of Earth; and his newest book, The Butterfly's Treasure. In addition, three books of Schimmel's collected artworks have been published, two in Japan and one in the United States.

Schim Schimmel communicates a simple yet profound message through his artwork and writing--the need to cherish and protect this world. In his words, "It is so easy with our complicated, busy, sometimes difficult lives to forget just how magnificent, how miraculous our planet earth truly is. It is equally easy to forget that we do not own, but share this planet with all its many life-forms. As an artist and writer, my desire is to remind all of us that we are responsible for the well being of this world."

Today, Schim Schimmel and Kirk Smith own their own fine-art/book publishing company--SchimmelSmith Publishing, located in Burbank, California. Schimmel continues to travel to Japan every year to attend exhibitions of his artwork.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Butterfly's Treasure is a literary and artistic treasure, December 19, 2009

By 

Andrea Coventry - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Butterfly's Treasure (Hardcover)

The Butterfly's Treasure by Schim Schimmel is one of the most beautiful, awe-inspiring books I have ever seen. The vibrant colors on the cover alone inspire dreams of far-away places. Each turn of the page reveals another jaw-dropping, inspirational view of some of the world's most majestic creatures and places. As I read this book to my class of 3-6 year-olds, I was moved by their exclamations as they saw each painting.

The story itself is just as inspiring as the artwork. Young Caterpillar is the last of this season's monarchs. He meets Old Monarch, who is the last of last season's monarchs. Old Monarch wishes to impart his wisdom upon the young caterpillar, and proceeds to tell him of his travels around the world over the last year to find treasure. Old Monarch encounters some of the greatest creatures around the world, including brown bears, polar bears, seals, elephants, lions, gorillas, tigers, snow leopards, penguins, dolphins, and wolves. He finds them in the most beautiful locations around the world. Young Caterpillar realizes that the whole world is a treasure to cherish, and after becoming an adult monarch, sets off to seek it for himself.

Following the reading of the story, I went around the circle and asked the children to tell me what some treasures were. A few mentioned jewels and pirate's gold. But even at their young ages, most were able to identify that animals, people, and nature were things to be treasured. This is testimony that Schim Schimmel's message is easily conveyed to even the youngest reader.

Schim Schimmel is the artist/author for three other books that have garnered international attention for their artistry and message: Dear Children of the Earth -- A Letter From Home, Children of the Earth...Remember, and The Family of the Earth. All of these titles are perennial favorites in my classroom and those of my colleagues. The Butterfly's Treasure will earn a place of honor next to them on the shelf. I'm already eagerly anticipating his next work!

Andrea Coventry is a reviewer for [...].

5.0 out of 5 stars What a great story ......, April 19, 2010

By 

Alicia Oberlander "Alicia O" (California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Butterfly's Treasure (Hardcover)

What a wonderful book. I bought this for my 6 year old daughter who loves animals and it was a huge hit. She loves to read it but LOVES the illustrations even more.
It's a very touching story about the life of a Monarch butterfly and the many places it will visit during it's lifetime. I didn't know much about the author / artist Schim Schimmel when I purchaed it. What a pleasant surprise to find his art and even more books on the internet and read about his work with the Jane Goodall association.
I would recommend this to anyone looking for a book for a child or just an art lover.

5.0 out of 5 stars Aimed at children age 5-10, and lovers of the planet everywhere, November 21, 2009

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Butterfly's Treasure (Hardcover)

"Butterfly's Treasure" by author and illustrator Schim Schimmel is an exquisitely illustrated children's fable about a magic Monarch butterfly's enchanted journey. The oldest of last year's butterflies, or "Monarch" decides to tell a tale of his quest for treasure and magical journey to the youngest of the caterpillars, and the last to go to sleep. What follows is a beautiful series of wondrous images of a vast variety of living creatures all over the globe we call earth. At the end, as young caterpillar is preparing to go to sleep, he asks "...Old Monarch, you never told me where you found your treasure." Old Monarch answers, "...This entire world is your treasure, and all its living creatures are its jewels." As young Caterpillar thinks about this and prepares to sleep in his cocoon, the words sink into his dreams. "This world is your treasure..." "Butterfly's Treasure" is a beautiful book that carries a powerful message of global harmony and species interdependence. It is aimed at children age 5-10, and lovers of the planet everywhere.