Children's Book Review: Butterflies Are Pretty… Gross! - A Book for Kids

Two thumbs up for a children's book that is both entertaining and educational. Published by Penguin Random House in 2021, Butterflies are Pretty…Gross! is written by Rosemary Mosco, a science writer and naturalist. Mosco has written and drawn for The New York Times, Audubon, PBS Kids', and Ranger Rick. Jacob Souva creates the fun and whimsical illustrations.

I shared the book with my grandchildren, and they were quickly drawn into the story. Like many children, they love to hear gross stories, especially when the words "poop" or "butt" are mentioned. We learned that some butterflies feed on stinky things like decaying animals, moldy fruit, poop, and animal's tears. Monarchs taste with their feet, and the red cracker defends its territory with the only butterfly sound that we can hear.

Children are fascinated with ingenious but gross ways butterflies protect themselves from their enemies. The caterpillars of the giant swallowtails resemble bird poop, and the red-banded hairstreak tricks predators by confusing them with a butt that looks like their head.

At the end of the story, readers can check out a listing of the butterflies mentioned in the book, along with an illustration and fun facts. As my granddaughter said, I would give the book an A-plus, and when a children's story takes me to the Internet searching for the sound of the cracker butterfly and a photo of the hairstreak butt — I consider it a success!

Coming this summer, Rosemary Mosco delivers another must have science-based children’s book, Flowers are Pretty…Weird! also illustrated by Jacob Souva.