Saving the Butterfly Synopsis
A poetic, powerful story about a little brother and a big sister finding a new home and new hope after being rescued from a boat lost in the dark sea.
A little brother and his big sister try their best to settle in a new home, where they have nothing left from before except each other.
The little one makes new friends and quickly learns to laugh again but his sister remains haunted by the shadows of their past and hides away in their broken house. Trying to help his sister, the little one catches a butterfly for her and brings it inside the house.
His sister knows that she needs to set the butterfly free ... but that would mean going outside. In taking the first steps to face her fears and save the butterfly, she also begins the process of saving herself.
About This Edition
| ISBN: |
9781406397208 |
| Publication date: |
3rd February 2022 |
| Author: |
Helen Cooper |
| Illustrator: |
Gill Smith |
| Publisher: |
Walker Books Ltd |
| Format: |
Hardback |
| Pagination: |
32 pages |
| Suitable For: |
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| Other Genres: |
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Helen Cooper Press Reviews
a triumph of storytelling in words and art. - 'Children's Books About Immigration', The New York Times
Gill Smith's illustrations for Saving the Butterfly by Helen Cooper also lean towards muted grey shades as we see a boy and his older sister, two refugees, rescued from a boat. The boy settles, makes friends, but the girl is haunted by the past and can't move on until the day her brother brings her a butterfly. As the insect and the girl begin to flourish, the illustrations become as rich and colourful as the butterfly's wings. A tender tale focusing on the aftermath of conflict, it's a great companion to Nicola Davies's The Day War Came (2019). - Observer
with illustrations that find sweetness in sadness, this touching picture book is the resonant story of refugee siblings who have lost everything but each other - The Sunday Times
This is the most beautiful story of loss, fear and hope, tied together with the healing power of nature. - Juno
Featured in 'Best children's books of 2022 so far' -- Nicolette Jones - Sunday Times
About Helen Cooper
Helen Cooper’s childhood was spent in Cumbria, but she now lives in Oxford with her husband, Ted Dewan and young daughter. As well as being a highly talented artist, Helen is also a keen musician who studied music at college and worked as a music teacher before writing and illustrating full time.
She has illustrated over fourteen books and her work has been translated into fifteen languages. Helen is the first ever author/illustrator to have won the Kate Greenaway Medal with two consecutive books.
More About Helen Cooper
