Olivia likes nothing more than being in her garden with her butterfly friends. They are the only friends she has near her country cottage home, but she is perfectly content. When it’s sunny she loves watching them around a picnic, and on rainy days Olivia builds them shelters and feeders.

One day boxes appear and are filled. Mum is busy organising on her phone and moving men are lifting and carrying. They are moving away!

Mum assures her that she’ll make new friends in the city, but Olivia can’t think of life without her butterfly friends. On moving day they follow her until they can follow no more and soon, her butterflies are replaced with tall grey buildings.

Mum was wrong. There are no new city friends, and Olivia misses her butterfly friends more than ever. Until she realises why. She gets to work, making her apartment balcony a place where butterflies will want to be. But while she works, someone is watching… a new friend maybe?

Olivia’s butterfly garden skills have attracted a person instead, and then another, and another! Until at last, her butterfly friends arrive.

As soon as you open this lovely hardcover picture book, you are invited into a garden. This is Olivia’s garden and she has a special relationship with butterflies. The wonder of a butterfly is age-old and being surrounded by many is a marvel. This is the life of Olivia – The Butterfly Girl.

Moving away from all she knows is an experience many of us can personally understand. Olivia’s move is away from her garden and her life – her butterflies. The contrast between her country home to the city is stark and heartfelt. I particularly enjoyed how Olivia decides she is going to do something about her situation herself, and she gets to work.

Her industry and determination are seen by others and sows the seeds of new friendships. The return of her butterflies is the result she truly deserves, and now she can introduce them to her new friends.

Inside the back cover, instructions on how to grow your own Butterfly Garden are clear and practical and easy enough for anyone, no matter where they might live.

Author – Ashling Kwok

Illustrator – Arielle Li

Picture Book

Find Teacher’s Notes Here

(2024, EK Books, Exisle Publishing, Butterfly, Butterflies, Friendships, Moving House, Leaving Friends Behind, Making New friends, Butterfly Garden Nature, Growing, Sharing Skills, Determination, Helping Others, Community)