Customer Reviews

I Wish I Were a Butterfly

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This is the story of a little cricket who comes to realize his true beauty after being helped by a wise old spider. The little cricket lives in Swampswallow Pond where most of the other crickets are happy spending their days fiddling. This little cricket is not happy. He has been told by the frog at the edge of the pond that he is ugly. He envies all the other creatures that live in Swampswallow Pond. The cricket questions several of the creatures about his beauty, but it isn't until he comes upon the wise old spider that he is able to find his own beauty. Follow Up: Ask students what they think about the story. Students will brainstorm ideas about wishes. Students can write about their own wishes and dreams.Make a class book. Students will write about some things they like about themselves. Draw a different student's name each day and have everyone write the student a letter telling them what they like about that person. Perform this story as a reader's theater.

As a teacher, I can not tell you enough how fabulous this book is! It not only has beautiful illustrations it also has a beautiful message! I use this whenever I teach my butterfly unit, and this is always the kids favorite book that I read! Buy it - you will not regret it!

I am a senior in high school, and our English teacher shared this story with us, and had us to look for a deeper meaning. It is wonderful and inspiring. I want a copy so I can share it with my children one of these days.

My son has 6 years old and he is starting to learn the best knowledge in life : to read. Every week he brings a book from his school's library and it is a very special moment for us when we sit together and I read for him. I really enjoy it but this last week was more than special because this book had an important message and it was an inspiration for both of us.

As a future teacher, I am always looking for books that will be both enjoyable and educational. This is a great book for social studies concepts in younger grades (K-2) and excellent for elements of literature in older grades (3+). The message is one that children can never hear enough: You have gifts that should not be neglected!

I love this book so much, that this was my third time buying it. The of two copies have grown feet and walked off of my shelf. Hopefully I will have better luck with this book.

The beautiful lesson of this tale is that each of us is unique with talents and gifts that enrich others' lives. The poor little cricket in the story is unhappy because he has been told he is ugly. He wishes he were a beautiful butterfly. Little does he know that by the end of the story, it is the beautiful butterfly who will be admiring him for the lovely music he can make!
I have an autistic son, and this book is an absolute treasure to me. Every child - every person, really - should be nurtured to understand the lesson of this story: that he or she is special and wonderful just the way he or she is!

I Wish I Were a Butterfly is one of my favorite books to share with children. The lesson is one that can never be taught too often. The illustrations are art quality and captivating. It is the perfect book to carry into most classrooms as a "guest" reader. Few children have experienced this book, but I've never read it to a class (or child) that did not enjoy it.

The littlest cricket in Swampswallow Pond is very unhappy. The frog who lives at the edge of the pond has told him that he is the ugliest creature which the frog has ever seen. So at sunrise, he doesn't want to go out with the other crickets. Even when his mother compels him to go, he doesn't want to make music. He wants to be a butterfly instead because butterflies are so beautiful, and the sound of the crickets fiddling makes him even sadder. The glowworm, the ladybug, the dragon fly, and a spider known as The Old One, all try to convince him that he is not ugly. Will they succeed? And what will the butterfly say when he hears the crickets' song?
I was first introduced to this wonderful book by my good friend and gospel preacher Norman Midgette, whose wife Myrna had used it with school children whom she taught. Norman quoted from it to illustrate a Bible class lesson that he was teaching during a gospel meeting. People were so impressed that he had to make several photocopies of his notes, especially since the book was then out of print. It is indeed a lovely story, and there are so many great lessons in it for children and adults to learn--that wishing for what is impossible is a waste of time, that we should not believe everything that others say about us, that we should learn to be content with what we are, that it isn't right to be envious of others, and that everyone is special in his or her own way.

My daughter picked this book out at the local library. I was skeptical as the cover is a bit 'dark.' Opening the pages and reading the book was magical! Yes, I said, it. Sounds corny but it was so beautiful.