SuitabookSaving the Butterfly
Helen Cooper
- Reading
- Read together when there is time to pause over the illustrations. Notice changes from dark hues to vivid colours, and let the child decide whether to discuss the journey, the sister’s feelings or the ending.
- Themes
- Different ways of coping: The younger sibling explores and makes friends, while the older sister stays indoors and struggles with memories and uncertainty. The story presents patience and time as necessary to healing, rather than treating one response as the correct one.
- Displacement and refuge: The siblings survive a sea journey, are rescued and start life in a new country from a broken house. The story humanises the refugee experience by focusing on the children’s feelings, togetherness and yearning for safety.
- Hope through connection: The book addresses hope through connection; the detail of how it is developed remains unclear. Connection is shown as meaningful, while the butterfly and vivid colours represent hope and courage within a difficult situation.
- Worth knowing
- It describes the illustrations as using dark hues for isolation, loss and uncertainty, and vivid colours for hope and courage.