Already a Butterfly

April 15, 2020
Meditation and mindfulness practices are woven into a sweet story about a busy butterfly. Mari Posa is a beautiful butterfly, depicted with a human body, vibrantly jewel-toned wings, medium-brown skin, and black braided hair. She stays extremely busy, with a fast-paced pollination schedule and lengthy list of chores, and she never has time to rest. Mari doesn't feel any better prepared for the bustling tempo of the world after her parents offer suggestions that she follow her instincts and have fun but without any advice on how to do so. A timely lesson from a friendly flower bud on self-acceptance and measured breathing helps Mari connect with her body and find the joys in life that she had been passing by. An enlightened Mari approaches life with new appreciation for her surroundings and fresh confidence. The message that readers can find quiet within themselves is followed by a simple lesson on breathing embedded in the story. Mari chants, "Breathing in, I am a butterfly. Breathing out, I feel happy," and readers may find themselves breathing along. Soft, textured illustrations full of floral elements match the gentle quality of the tale. In a world that can't seem to slow down, this story reminds readers to trust their instincts and breathe. (afterword) (Picture book. 5-8)

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May 4, 2020
Mari, the butterfly of the title, is a dazzling creature, a brown-skinned fairylike girl whose resplendent blue wings allow her to soar. But between exercises and work to “pollinate the whole field, she can’t find time to slow herself or rest. “You just have to learn a way to get rid of the hurry and worry that keep you from knowing who you really are,” Bud tells her. He’s a fat lily bud whose beaklike smile and friendly eyes make him an engaging guru. He invites Mari to remember a time when she was still in her chrysalis, “all soft and warm,” then coaches her to breathe: “Breathing in, you are a butterfly. Breathing out, you feel happy.” Mari stretches out her human arms, then launches into joyful flight—not doing, just being. Alvarez (Return to Sender) pens this introduction to meditation with advisory zeal, focusing on explanations that will appeal to caretakers who seek to support young meditation practitioners. Jewel-toned spreads by Colón (Imagine!) provide scope for dreaming: Mari’s distinctive features—her black braids, her elflike shoes, her golden crown—give readers a fantasy heroine to linger over. An afterword provides information about the story’s origin. Ages 5–9. Author’s agent: Stuart Bernstein, Stuart Bernstein Representation for Artists. Illustrator’s agent: Gail Gaynin, Morgan Gaynin.

May 15, 2020
Grades K-2 Mari is a beautiful, rainbow-colored butterfly who's so resplendent she wears a crown. But she doesn't know how to be happy. She is too stressed out about collecting as much pollen as she can and obsesses over a to-do list. Unable to sleep, she longs for the peaceful time she spent in her chrysalis. All that changes when she meets Bud, a plant that's happy just as he is. Bud teaches Mari to find the quiet she's seeking by guiding her in meditation. She listens to his words, closes her eyes, pays attention to her breathing, and in the process has an awakening. In her new state of calm, she can see the beauty of the world and truly be herself. In the end, just as Mari blooms spiritually, Bud physically transforms into a flower. This is a tale about learning to be joyful in a world that seems to demand more and more of individuals. Young readers will find the prose and the dreamlike pictures of Mari's journey soothing?and something to meditate on.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)