Reviewed by Nancy Eaton
The Bison and the Butterfly by Alice Hemming is a cute picture book, but it also carries a nice message without feeling heavy-handed. Purchase Here.
The story follows a bison and a butterfly, two creatures that couldn’t be more different. One is huge, one is tiny, and at first it seems like an odd pairing. That’s what makes the story work. Kids can easily see themselves in the characters, especially if they’ve ever felt different from the people around them.
The book’s main lesson is friendship. The book doesn’t preach about friendship, but the reader will feel it naturally. It shows we can be completely different but still get along.
The illustrations are colorful and cheerful and do a great job of bringing the story to life. I found myself spending extra time looking at the pictures because they have lots of little details that younger readers will enjoy. The bison, in particular, has a lot of personality.
This would be a great book to read to children at home or in a classroom. It will create many different conversations about friendship and show that people don’t have to be the same to get along. Those themes are familiar, but they’re presented in a way that feels fresh and engaging.
Overall, I thought this was a sweet, enjoyable story with memorable characters and a positive message. It’s the kind of picture book that children will want to hear more than once, and honestly, it’s an enjoyable read for adults too.