Butterfly Park

Reach for this book when your child is facing a major life transition, such as moving to a new neighborhood or starting a new school, and feels like an outsider looking in. It is a gentle, visually stunning story about a young girl who moves to a new town and finds a park that is missing its namesake butterflies. Instead of giving up, she takes the initiative to transform the space, discovering that the best way to plant roots in a new place is to invite others to help you grow something beautiful. Elly MacKay's unique paper-diorama art style captures the delicate balance between the loneliness of being the 'new kid' and the wonder of discovery. It is ideal for children ages 3 to 7, offering a soft entry point into conversations about resilience, community, and the patience required to make a house feel like a home. Parents will appreciate how it models proactive social behavior without feeling preachy, showing that sometimes you have to be the one to open the gate and say hello first.