Velma Gratch and the Way Cool Butterfly

Velma has just entered the 1st grade and is struggling to create her own identity. Everyone already knows her two older sisters and Velma feels that no one is getting to know her. In the beginning Velma gets attention by acting out and misbehaving. Luckily getting sent to the principle is enough to change her ways. Velma discovers her passion for butterflies which helps her to stand out. I really liked this book because of how eye catching it was. The illustrations are large and brightly colored. I feel Velma is very easy to relate with. Children may have many things in common with her that can help pull them into the story weather it being trying to stand out in a crowd, being a misfit, adjusting to a new place, or even just an show more interest in bugs or butterflies. I think this book rocks because of its use of language. It captures the mood and identity of a young child trying to make her way through life. show less

Velma, the third and youngest of the Gratch girls, struggles to establish her own identity as she enters the first grade, that is until she discovers a passion for butterflies during a class trip to a butterfly conservatory. Her interest leads to an adventure that changes her forever and makes people around her sit up and notice.
I think her journey symbolizes the universal struggle many children face to step out of the shadow of others and embrace their own identity. This story is great because it reminds everyone has unique qualities that make them special, and finding your passion is the key to discovering who you are.

First-grader Velma Gratch longs for a way to distinguish herself, and step out from the shadow cast by her two elder sisters, Frieda and Fiona. With teachers that still speak of Frieda's beautiful singing and Fiona's swift running, not to mention their talent for math and spelling, how can Velma demonstrate that she too is special? The answer comes during a class trip to the butterfly conservatory, where Velma has an enchanted encounter that no one will ever forget...

I "found" this book some time ago for a fellow reader who belongs to the children's literature group I moderate, and have been meaning to return to it ever since. Ideal for young butterfly enthusiasts, Velma Gratch and the Way Cool Butterfly also addresses the emotional show more world of younger siblings, who often feel overshadowed by their older brothers and sisters. Kevin Hawkes, whose work I have encountered before in the fantasy novels of Eva Ibbotson, here delivers illustrations that are whimsical and expressive, enhancing the appeal of Madison's tale. show less

Charming story about the youngest of three sisters who wants to find a way to stand out and be remembered like her sisters are. The initial problem is set up clearly (Velma doesn’t stand out but wants to), then she tries to get noticed in unsuccessful ways (e.g., for bad things instead of good ones), then finally finds something she’s good at and excited about—butterflies. She gets her chance to shine during a trip to the butterfly museum, and then the second problem of the story starts, which is that a butterfly attaches itself to her finger and won’t let go. For days. Finally, just when the principal is getting fed up, Velma, drawing on her butterfly knowledge, realizes how she can get the butterfly to go at last. It’s show more complex and satisfying and the language is lovely in many places, and of course the illustrations are fabulous because they are by Kevin Hawkes. There were a few places where I felt transitions were missing from one scene to another, and I didn’t buy the moment where Velma almost touches a butterfly’s wings even though she knows it could hurt the insect, but otherwise I thought this was very well done. show less

This School Library Journal Best Book of the Year celebrates everything butterfly, from migration to metamorphosis! Kids will love reading about Velma's own transformation from a timid first grader into a confident scientist.

It's hard to be Velma entering first grade. That's because everyone has marvelous memories of her two older sisters, who were practically perfect first graders, and no one even notices Velma. But all that changes on a class trip to the butterfly conservatory, a place neither of her sisters has been. When a monarch roosts on Velma's finger and won't budge for days—no one will ever forget it . . . or her!

Velma Gratch is a first grader who misbehaves for attention. Everyone around her has these awesome memories of her two older sisters but they can barely remember her Velma's name. Velma thinks she can't live up to the expectations that everyone has of her two older sisters. Velma becomes interested in the butterflies she is studying in science class. Her school takes a field trip to a butterfly conservatory where a monarch lands on velmas finger and stays there for days. Velma attends school and other everyday activities with the butterfly on her finger. This gets everyone's attention and suddenly velma is "popular". The school returns to the conservatory to release the butterfly. I really loved this book. I thought Velma's actions were show more caused by her wanting to be different and wanting to be her own person and not be in the shadows of her older siblings. This book ended perfectly with the release of the butterfly. show less

Velma Gratch and the Way Cool Butterfly is a cute read about finding your identity and being proud of who you are. Velma is entering the 1st grade and wants to badly to be noticed by her teacher and her peers. Velma has two older sisters who everyone knows. Velma begins acting out because she thinks that is what she needs to do to be noticed, until her class takes a field trip to a butterfly conservatory. Velma meets a Monarch Butterfly who helps her discover her passion for butterflies and insects. Her passion for bugs helps her stand out in the class and helps her find her identity. The illustrations in this book are vivid and detailed and full of color. I enjoyed this book and think it would be great to incorporate in the classroom.