Synopses & Reviews
Once there was a girl who loved butterflies. She had to move to a new town, and when she arrived, she felt so lucky there was a place nearby called Butterfly Park! But when she opened the park gate, there were no butterflies to be found.
The girl asked her neighbors for help, and after many tries to bring the butterflies back, they realized they needed flowers! The entire town helped replant Butterfly Park, and in time . . . the butterflies came.
From the author and illustrator of If You Hold a Seed and Shadow Chasers comes the enchanting story of how one small person can inspire a town to come together and bloom. Elly MacKayand#8217;s acclaimed paper-cut artwork and graceful text encourage a sense of community, empowerment, friendship, and wonderment in the simple beauty of everyday life.
Review
"Centered on the park's elaborate art nouveau gateway, MacKay's lyrical paper collage and diorama constructs feature layered details and out-of-focus backgrounds for a sense of depth. Brightly patterned butterflies, delicate flowers, and human figures pose like gracefully off-balance dancers. . . . Worthy of theme and equally pleasing to the eye and the spirit."
and#151;Kirkus Reviews
Review
"Each intricately detailed page is like some tiny, delicate stage set, with a blurred background suggesting an even wider world beyond.and#8221;
and#151;The New York Times Bookshelf
"Centered on the park's elaborate art nouveau gateway, MacKay's lyrical paper collage and diorama constructs feature layered details and out-of-focus backgrounds for a sense of depth. Brightly patterned butterflies, delicate flowers, and human figures pose like gracefully off-balance dancers. . . . Worthy of theme and equally pleasing to the eye and the spirit."
and#151;Kirkus Reviews
and#147;MacKayand#8217;s artwork recreates the feel and pleasure of Edwardian-era illustration, and lovers of picture-book fantasy will embrace it.and#8221;
and#151;Publishers Weekly
and#147;The settings are intricateand#151;the Butterfly Park entrance gate is a thing of beautyand#151;and MacKayand#8217;s sense of composition is spot-on.and#8221;
and#151;Bookpage
and#147;The real treat here is the art. MacKay in in top form, and readers will delight in the mix of colours, textures, and perspectives she employs in creating the visual elements of this lovely book.and#8221;
and#151;Quill and Quire
Synopsis
When a little girl moves to a new town, she finds a place called Butterfly Park. But when she opens the gate, there are no butterflies.
Determined to lure the butterflies in, the girl inspires her entire town to help her. And with their combined efforts, soon the butterfliesand#151;and the girland#151;feel right at home.
Elly MacKay's luminous paper-cut illustrations and enchanting story encourage community, friendship, and wonderment in the beauty of everyday life.
Free poster on reverse side of book jacket.
About the Author
Elly MacKay lives in Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada with her husband and children. She is the author and illustrator of If You Hold a Seed, which was selected for The Original Art show by the Society of Illustrators, and Shadow Chasers. Her artwork is sold around the world including at her Etsy.com store, Theater Clouds.