Velma Gratch and the Way Cool Butterfly

October 29, 2007
At the center of Madison’s (The Littlest Grape Stomper
) picture book is first-grader Velma Gratch; despite her round eyeglasses and bushy red pigtails, she worries that she isn’t as memorable as her well-known older siblings—until she discovers butterflies. “She adored the ones with colorful names: brown elfin, frosted flasher, sleepy orange. And the ones with funny names: comma, question mark, American snout.” During a school trip to a butterfly conservatory, which Velma aptly calls a “can-serve-the-story” in a humorous if too-cute Junie B.-esque malapropism, the otherwise ordinary story veers abruptly into fantasy. A monarch perches on Velma’s finger and won’t let go (she attends ballet class with it on her finger and sleeps with her butterfly hand on a pillow), finally giving her the distinction she craves. Hawkes’s (Library Lion
) paintings ably convey the colorful differences between the types of butterflies. His work shines most brightly, perhaps, on his witty endpapers: the opening papers show caterpillars (including an “orange-tipped Gratch”); the papers at the end display butterflies (Velma is now a “Small Gratchis”), underscoring the character’s own metamorphosis. Both adults and emerging conservationists should appreciate this leisurely story about finding one’s bliss. Ages 4-8.

Starred review from December 1, 2007
K-Gr 3-Velma is the youngest of the Gratch sisters and longs to be special in her own right. Her flame-red tresses are pulled into tight ponytails that mirror her moods. They droop in dismay, rise during moments of intellectual absorption, and are positively airborne when she's happya state that is challenging to achieve because of her birth order. Her eldest sister is gifted musically and the second one is athletic. Velma's niche eludes her until a science lesson on butterflies and a field trip to the conservatory (where a monarch perches on her finger and staysfor days) transform her world. Patterns in Madison's lyrical text are mirrored in Hawkes's sensitive but humorous compositions, a choice that creates aesthetic pleasure and propels the narrative with seamless, rhythmic buoyancy. From the colophon in the shape of a butterfly to the labeled caterpillarsand then mature winged creatureson the front and back endpapers, respectively, it is clear that much attention has been paid to design. The book is a visual and verbal delight. While it is a perfect curricular tie-in, don't wait for an excuse to share this story of a gentle but plucky girl determined to discover her talents. Kids will relate to Velma's struggle and rejoice in her victory.Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library

Copyright 2007 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2007
When she enters first grade, Velma Gratch feels lost in theshadows of her two older sisters: Everyone from the class guinea pig to the principal had magnificent memories of the older Gratch girls. But they could hardly even recall Velmas name.At first Velmamisbehaves to get attention.Thenshe becomes fascinatedby thebutterflies she is studying in science class. Ona class trip to a butterfly conservatory, a monarch lands on her finger and stays putfor days. Velma and her butterfly become so popular and distracting that the principal calls for the monarchs release, and Velma, withthe entire school in tow, returns it to the conservatory just as the other monarchs take flight for their winter migration. Madisons cleverly woven butterfly facts bolster this amusing story of a younger siblings fight for individuality, while Hawkes extends thehumor and emotion invivid, colored-pencil images of first-graders, insects, siblings, and, best of all, Velmawhose wide, outstretched orange pigtails are as bright as a monarchs wings.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)