The Butterfly

Late one night, Monique awakens to find a ghost sitting at the foot of her bed, petting her cat, Pinouff. Believing herself to be incapable of surprise, since the occupation of her country and village by the Nazis, the young French girl is nevertheless much struck by the sad visage of her mysterious visitor. The discovery that Sevrine is no ghost, but a Jewish girl being hidden, together with her parents, in Monique's own basement, leads to the formation of a secret nighttime friendship between them. But when they are seen by a neighbor, and Sevrine and her family must be moved on to a new safe-house, both girls know that that they may never meet again...

Like so many of Patricia Polacco's books, The Butterfly is based upon the real-life show more experiences of the author's family, in this case, her Aunt Monique Boisseau Gaw, and Monique's mother, Marcel Sollilage, a member of the French Resistance during World War II. With so many fascinating branches on the family tree, I'm more interested than ever in the author's biographical background, and came away from this picture-book with a desire to know more, particularly about Marcel. The narrative hints that she hid a number of Jews from the Nazis. Who were the others, and was her work ever recognized? What about Sevrine? The afterword mentions that she survives (her parents do not), finding her way to England, and eventually to Israel. I would have loved to learn more about her journey, and about her lifelong friendship with Monique.

Leaving that aside, I thought that The Butterfly was a moving portrait of the horrors of war, as seen by a young girl, and found myself choking up - as I so frequently do, with Polacco's books - while reading it. Monique's innocence, in thinking that she is inured to shock, struck me as a very realistic (and poignant) example of the coping tactics a young child would use, when confronted with terrible realities. This is definitely a title I would recommend, to parents and teachers looking for books to introduce the difficult topics of WWII and the Holocaust to young readers. show less

I really love this book, because it creates an accurate portrayal of the Holocaust without getting too gruesome. The story dives into the emotional side of the Holocaust by showing a friendship that is torn apart, but it doesn’t talk about the brutality of the war. The emotional side of the war in my opinion was just as destructive to families as the brutality, so this book is a good way to ease into the horrific topic. Something else that strikes me about this book is the symbolism used with the butterflies. My interpretation of the author’s use of butterflies is to represent the hope for victims of the Holocaust. I say this because, Sevrine is releasing the butterfly when the neighbor sees her and threatens her existence, so when show more the butterflies returns it is a symbol that Sevrine’s safety has returned. At the end of the book Monique tells her mother, "Sevrine sent them, I know it! She and her parents are safe." This creates a sense of closure for Sevrine and her family. The true representation of the butterflies is really left up to the reader, because all the butterflies at the end of the story could be more severe then I interpreted the text. The butterflies could have been representing all the lives lost to the war that are now in a better place. I like how the author leaves the interpretation up to the reader, because either ending could have been equally as possible, and a lot of times families that helped the Jews never knew their fate after they left their care. The author does a great job of creating this informational story, while maintain a plot that is heartwarming. The big idea of this story is that sometimes we have to accept a peace in the unknown. show less

Patricia Polacco does it again with another great read. Like most of her stories, she bases her topics off of her own family's history. I really enjoyed The Butterfly. I have an interest in books based around World War II, so this story interested me from the beginning. At some points, the story took a real sad turn, such as in the beginning when Monique is admiring a butterfly and German soldiers walk over and crush it in their fists. I found that to be mighty crude, but it plays towards the Nazis and their mission. I really liked the symbolism in this story. The butterflies seemed to be symbols of the victims of the Nazis and it really created a strong emotional attachment to the reading.

A tale of friendship and bravery in the midst of unthinkable horror, this classic Holocaust story from master storyteller Patricia Polacco is a vital lesson in the power of hope.In this Holocaust story based on real events and passed from the narrator to her niece, the author-illustrator herself, Patricia Polacco once again celebrates the shared humanity of the peoples of this world. Ever since the Nazis marched into Monique's small French village, terrorizing it, nothing surprises her. That is, until the night Monique encounters a little ghost sitting at the end of her bed. She turns out to be a Jewish girl named Sevrine who has been hiding from the Nazis in Monique's basement. Playing after dark, the two become friends. But when they show more are discovered, both of their families must embark on a nighttime flight. And Monique can only hope that the freedom of the butterflies in her garden will reach Sevrine as well. show less

Living in a Nazi occupied town in France during WWII, Monique soon realizes that the "ghost" she has been seeing in her room some nights is actually a little Jewish girl named Sevrine. Monique learns that Sevrine and her family have been secretly living under the floorboards in her house for awhile now. One night while releasing a butterfly out of Monique's bedroom window, Sevrine is seen by a neighbor. Understanding the danger of what has just happened the girls rush to Monique's mother's room to wake her. It is far to dangerous for Sevrine's family now and they must leave immediately. Monique and her mother help Sevrine escape the town and are forced to say goodbye. Back at home in their garden, Monique is distraught wondering about show more her new friend's safety. Just then, thirty to forty butterflies fly out the garden and Monique's mama tells her that it is a sign that Sevrine and her family are safe from harm.
No matter how the subject of the Holocaust is introduced to children, it is going to be an intense topic. I think this book does a beautiful job of not "glossing over" the horrific nature of the Holocaust, but still keeping it appropriate for an elementary audience. show less

This book is the story of a young girl named Monique who lived in a small French village during WWII. She woke up one night to what she thought was a ghost girl petting her cat at the end of her bed. When Monique asked who she was, she quickly disappeared. Monique told her mother about the ghost the next morning, but her mother told her it was only a dream and she went off to school. On the way home from school Monique and her friend, Denise Monsieur Mark waved the girls into the candy shop where he gave them each a piece of candy for their trip home. Shortly after the girls left, Monsieur Mark was tackled to the ground and thrown into a car by the Nazis. The girls were sobbing by the time they made it to Monique's house, so they told show more her mother what happened. Many nights passed where Monique didn't see the ghost girl again, until the night that she did. The ghost girl turned out not to be a ghost after all. She was a Jewish girl named Sevrine hiding from the Nazis in Monique's basement! The next morning Monique saw a butterfly in the garden and kept it for Sevrine along with a flower. She said the flower was Sevrine's sunshine and the butterfly flying away symbolized the day that Sevrine and her family will be able to fly away. Sadly, the neighbor spotted the two girls out the window that night so they quickly told Monique's mother. Monique's mother helped the family bury anything in the basement that made it obvious that people were living there and helped them leave the country. Before Sevrine left, Sevrine gave Monique her Star of David to remember her by and Monique gave Severine her cat since she missed her own cat so much. A few weeks passed and Monique wished for a sign that Sevrine and her family were safe. That's when nearly thirty butterflies fluttered around the garden, a sign that Sevrine and her family were safe.

This story was set in a small French village during WWII where Nazi soldiers have practically taken over. Because of this, the setting not only clarifies conflict between the Jews and Nazis but also heightens the suspense. I practically zoomed through this book because I was so worried that the Nazi soldiers were going to mistake Monique for a Jew when Sevrine gave Monique her necklace and I was worried that the Nazi soldiers would come and take Sevrine and her family away.

I adore this book. I love the symbolism in the book and how informative it is to young children! This book accurately describes the fear and struggle of Jews during the Holocaust in a kid-friendly way. This book is such a heartfelt and sweet book that must be read! show less

This is probably my favorite book of all time. It not only delves into Polacco's family history, but it has a personal meaning to me. Before my mom passed away, she said whenever I see a butterfly that is her giving me a sign she is still with me. When reading this book I got the chills. I have never had as many encounters with butterflies until after my mom passed away, I even had one land on my back, which has never happened to me before. Butterflies are a personal symbols of remembrance for me and when reading this book I knew instantly that this would be one of my favorite books. This book is based on the lives of Polacco's aunt and her aunt's mother. The setting was right outside of Paris, during the Nazi occupation in World War show more II. Monique, Polacco's aunt, was a young girl during this time and thought there was a ghost child in her room. Before school the next morning, she told her mother and her mother just dismissed it as a dream. After that school day Monique and her friend went to Mr. Marks' candy shop, where he gave them each a piece of candy. As the girls were leaving they saw the "tall boots" coming up the hill. As the girls kept walking, peeking back from time to time, they saw Nazi soldiers dragging Mr. Marks' out of his candy shop into the back of a car. The girls were horrified and ran home where Monique's mom and their priest comforted them. Many nights later Monique saw this ghost child again, this time she talked to her and the child answered. She said her name was Sevrine and that she lived at Monique's house. Monique was confused. Sevrine showed Monique where her family was hiding underneath the house. They were Jewish and Monique's mom was trying to hide them from the Nazi's. For Monique's protection her mom told her nothing about the family they were hiding. Monique was in her garden and three Nazi soldiers came up to her garden and one of them took the beautiful butterfly that was on her flowers and squeezed it in his fist. Monique now felt the sadness she saw in Sevrine's eyes. The girls played together at night as often as they could. Monique brought Sevrine a papillon, butterfly. Monique told her, "Let it's wings flutter...Like the kiss of an angel!" (this was my absolute favorite line in the book) Time came when Sevrine and her family had to leave Monique's house because it was getting risky. Sevrine was separated from her parents who had to disguise themselves as a priest and a nun. After help from the local priest they quickly buried all belongings and went on their way. Sevrine went with Monique and her mother and waited for the car that was to help Sevrine meet back up with her mother and father. Sevrine gave Monique her Star of David necklace and Monique gave Sevrine her cat, Pinouff. After sending Sevrine on her way, Monique and her mother got separated at the train station. They both found their way back home. Weeks later Monique never forgot about Sevrine and had a sign when she was in her garden and then one butterfly came, and then another, and then another. Monique held her hand out and a butterfly landed on her finger and she took it to her cheek and it gave her "a kiss." In the author's note Polacco writes that Sevrine later sent a letter with a drawing of a butterfly and the words "I live Sevrine!" Sevrine made it to Switzerland and then later England. Polacco also inform the reader that Sevrine's parents did not survive their attempt to escape. Polacco's stories make me feel like I know so much about her and her family. She has a very interesting family history that I enjoy reading about. I also love how she illustrates her own stories. show less