Ben Clanton (Narwhal and Jelly series), Andy Chou Musser (Search for a Giant Squid, with Amy Seto Forrester), and Corey R. Tabor (Simon and the Better Bone) join forces to create Papilio, the inventive story of a black swallowtail butterfly, scientific name Papilio polyxenes. The charming and informative tale is divided into three sections, each representing a stage in Papilio's life: "Caterpillar," "Chrysalis," and "Butterfly."
Readers first meet Papilio in Clanton's "Caterpillar." She sits inside a small yellow egg on a flower's leaf: "Today is the day! she decides." After bursting out, her "tummy replies... gurgle!" The endearing caterpillar, with two dot eyes, perky antennae, and a warm smile, goes in search of food. She falls from her leaf, believing she's flying, but instead lands dramatically and comically on the ground. When a friendly mouse helps her, she discovers the world is "full of surprises!" The children at whom the book is aimed, who may also frequently seek snacks and stumble as they find their footing, will find much to enjoy, especially when Papilio sings, delightfully, before the "Chrysalis" story: "Got a full belly, time to turn to jelly!"
Tabor's "Chrysalis" depicts Papilio inside her "cozy chrysalis" where she "dissolves and turns into goo," prompting her to ponder how "weird" growing up can be. There's danger when birds argue over the tasty-looking chrysalis snack, but once again, the mouse saves the day. In Musser's "Butterfly," the still-hungry creature learns to navigate flying with her big new wings, avoids becoming a spider's meal, and shares a sweet treat with her mouse friend.
The stories flow seamlessly and blend cohesively into a unified whole, with each illustrator's distinctive style shining through. A closing note reveals that the final illustration is a collaborative one. Occasional speech bubbles and panels give the book a slight comic-book feel. The backmatter includes "A Flutter of Facts," a short section about butterflies, and an authors' note that explains how the story began as the collaborators walked through the Washington Park Arboretum in Seattle, wondering: "What would happen if we made a book together?" The result is a must-have for elementary science classrooms and libraries, as well as an ideal story for children curious about the natural world. --Julie Danielson
Shelf Talker: This collaborative story blends the artistic styles of three author/illustrators and tells a memorable story of metamorphosis.