Saving the Butterfly by Helen Cooper and Gill Smith (Walker) is described as “A tender tale focusing on the aftermath of conflict, it’s a great companion to Nicola Davies’s memorable The Day War Came (2019),” in the Observer New Review.
It was also included in The Times‘ ‘Best Children’s Books of 2022 so far’ list and says, “With illustrations that find sweetness in sadness, this touching picture book is the resonant story of refugee siblings who have lost everything but each other, and of the connection with a trapped butterfly that helps to heal the elder child.”
JUNO Magazine called it “The most beautiful story of loss, fear and hope, tied together with the healing power of nature.”
Saving the Butterfly has also received international praise, with The New York Times calling it “a triumph of storytelling in words and art” and “a surprisingly elegant tale about the effects of trauma”.
Kirkus Reviews described it as “A layered story that humanizes the refugee experience”.
The Irish Times also praised Saving the Butterfly, saying, “Cooper has crafted a compelling narrative that works as a stand-alone story, but also as a complement for discussing the sensitive subject matter [of the refugee experience] with young children. Gill Smith’s illustrations, a wash of watercolour pencil and crayon, provide beautiful and ultimately celebratory visual support.”
Saving the Butterfly was published in the UK on 3rd February 2022 by Walker Books, and in the US in June by Candlewick Press.
For the full Observer New Review article click here.
For the full The Times review click here.
Click here to see the JUNO Magazine review on Twitter.
For the full New York Times review click here.
For the full Kirkus review click here.
For the full Irish Times review click here.
