Butterfly for a King: Saving Hawaiʻi's Kamehameha Butterflies

Best Children's Books of the Year, Bank Street College of Education
The Cook Prize Silver Medalist, Bank Street College of Education
Green Earth Book Award, The Nature Generation
Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction, Recommended Title, National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)
AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books Longlist, American Association for the Advancement of Science

The fascinating true story of a beautiful native Hawaiian butterfly, a great Hawaiian warrior king, and current-day efforts by scientists and citizens to restore the butterfly's declining population.

The beautiful Kamehameha butterfly lives in Hawaii and nowhere else on Earth. Named to honor the great king who united the Hawaiian Islands, the butterfly is one of only two species native to Hawaii.

After the Kamehameha butterfly became the state insect--thanks to a group of fifth graders--people noticed that the butterflies were disappearing. So a team of dedicated professional and citizen scientists began working together to restore the butterfly's natural habitat and reintroduce butterflies in places where they were once found.

From the Sibert Medal-winning team that created Parrots Over Puerto Rico comes another nature adventure. Discover the captivating story of the Kamehameha butterfly and the people all around Hawaii who are helping it survive.

Author: Cindy Trumbore, Susan L. Roth
Publisher: Lee & Low Books
Published: 02/09/2021
Pages: 48
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.00lbs
Size: 10.90h x 9.20w x 0.40d
ISBN: 9781620149713
Audience: Ages 9-12

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 5.4
Point Value: 0.5
Interest Level: Lower Grade
Quiz #/Name: 511498 / Butterfly for a King: Saving Hawaii's Kamehameha Butterflies


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 12/01/2020
Booklist 12/01/2020 pg. 41
School Library Journal 02/01/2021 pg. 88
Publishers Weekly 02/08/2021

About the Author

CINDY TRUMBORE has been involved with young people's literature for most of her career. A former editor in children's book publishing, she now writes children's books, edits books for classrooms, and teaches writing. She has collaborated with her friend Susan L. Roth on several award-winning titles, including Parrots Over Puerto Rico, which won the Robert F. Sibert Medal for Nonfiction; The Mangrove Tree; and most recently Prairie Dog Song. She lives with her husband in Delaware. You can visit her online at cindykane.net.

Susan L. Roth's vibrant, unique, mixed-media collage illustrations have appeared in numerous outstanding picture books, including Parrots Over Puerto Rico, winner of the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal; Prairie Dog Song; The Mangrove Tree; and most recently Every Month Is a New Year and Malala Yousafzai: Warrior with Words. Roth and her husband live in New York. Visit her online at susanlroth.com.

Susan L. Roth's vibrant, unique, mixed-media collage illustrations have appeared in numerous outstanding picture books, including Parrots Over Puerto Rico, winner of the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal; Prairie Dog Song; The Mangrove Tree; and most recently Every Month Is a New Year and Malala Yousafzai: Warrior with Words. Roth and her husband live in New York. Visit her online at susanlroth.com.