  | Bianca and the butterfly Author: Ruzzier, Sergio | |
| Price: $24.48 | ||
Summary:
Bianca loves the things she knows ; her mom, the snow, the cold. But then she meets a beautiful butterfly, who leads her to an unfamiliar world that is different from everything Bianca knows. Through curiosity and wonder to discomfort and homesickness and back, Bianca discovers that she may also love the things she doesn't know yet.
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (11/15/24)
Booklist (12/01/24)
The Hornbook (00/05/25)
Full Text Reviews:
Other - 10/07/2024 After "up early" polar bear cub Bianca leaves the snuggly embrace of her sleeping mother, she considers their familiar landscape: "Bianca loves the things she knows." But today, "something new" appears, too: an extravagantly patterned butterfly perched on an ice floe. The vibrantly rendered insect appears in marked contrast to the pale washes of color that make up Bianca’s beloved habitat, and the intrigued bear hops onto the floe to investigate. The move finds the duo drifting to a tropical paradise filled with giant flowering plants and tasty fruits-a locale that seems more suited to butterfly than polar bear. After night falls, the vegetation suddenly feels much more threatening, and Bianca flees, catching a floating log back to her mother’s embrace. Final pages show that the cub is no worse for the adventure-in fact, a glint in her eye seems to imply she’s all the stronger for having encountered new things. As images of melting ice and frightening flora suggest how scary change can be, this story from Ruzzier (The Real Story) offers a transportive portrait of loving both the familiar and the yet-unknown. Ages 4-8. Agent: Jennifer Laughran, Andrea Brown Literary. (Jan.) - Copyright 2024
Booklist - 12/01/2024 While Mom’s still asleep, young polar bear Bianca’s already awake, appreciating the familiarity of where they live—from the colors of the icy landscape to the cold, “she loves what she knows.” One day, she spies bright, unfamiliar colors atop nearby ice floe; hopping over, finds a delightfully playful butterfly, but when Bianca realizes the floe has floated out to sea, fun quickly turns to worry. Eventually, they reach a vibrant, blooming world, with intriguing sights, smells, and tastes to discover. It's thrilling, but soon enough, she longs to go back, and with some resourcefulness, she finds a way, resulting in a happy, hug-filled reunion with Mom. The short, descriptive, read-aloud-friendly sentences and repetition pair well with charming pen, ink, and watercolor artwork. Ruzzier makes artful use of perspectives and palette, from the cool hues of her snowy habitat to the pinks, yellows, and oranges of her adventures. This fanciful, sweet, and reassuring story supportively portrays that, while being away from home can be daunting, the new and unfamiliar can both broaden horizons and highlight the meaningfulness of home. - Copyright 2024 Booklist.
