Arnold Sundgaard

A lamb invites a butterfly to stay with her and her mother in their meadow. The butterfly declines.

Excuse me as I undergo a dramatic bout of yawning . . .

I thought this was an okay book; I had mixed feelings after reading it. I loved the pictures. Not only were they by Eric Carle, who is known around the world for his many highly original and beautiful pictures, but also they enhanced the story and appropriately match the text. For example, every time the butterfly lands on a flower, the flower takes up the whole page, but the butterfly is still the focus. I also like how the pictures look like they are made with different textures. I was not show more impressed by the storyline and it did not interest me and make me want to keep reading. Even though the writing was organized, flowed, and was paced well, I just would not pick up this book and read it again, or read it to anyone else.The central message of this book is that you cannot make someone stay, if they do not want to stay. Even though the lamb thought the butterfly was better off with him, the butterfly did not agree. At the end of the book the butterfly explains, “Please don’t think me ungrateful,” said the Butterfly to the Lamb. And spreading his wings in the splendid act of flight, he zigged and he zagged and he ziggety zagged and soon was lost from sight. show less

A heartwarming story follows the friendship of a little lamb and a butterfly, who, by helping each other, learn about accepting the differences of others and appreciating the importance of freedom and independence.

This book tells the tale of two characters who come from completely different walks of life. Both of the characters can't imagine how the other lives until they must work together in a time of need. The two become friends and learn an abundance from one another.