Butterfly Tree — Sandra Markle

One late afternoon in early September, Jilly sees something. It looks like it's raining black pepper from a clear blue sky. Then the black rain becomes a wispy mist. And then a spooky orange cloud. What can it be? Jilly and Mom set out to identify the mysterious orange cloud. The closer they get, the more Jilly's guesses change. Gradually, the hidden world of nature opens to mother and daughter. This imaginative description of Monarch butterfly migration reminds us that a loving parent can empower a child to discover the mysteries of the natural world and to enjoy that discovery again and again. Because when you're making a memory, you want it to last as long as possible.