When facing unexpected loss, this humorous Spanish folktale shows a determined butterfly's journey to reunite with her love, proving persistence pays off.
A parent might reach for this book when their child is grappling with a sudden, upsetting change or loss, like a friend moving away or a favorite toy breaking. This story offers a hopeful and humorous way to process big feelings. It's a Spanish folktale about a beautiful butterfly who marries a charming cricket, only to lose him when he's swallowed by a fish. Her profound sadness sets off a comical chain reaction of sympathy, from a dove to a stream to a king. The book beautifully balances genuine sadness with absurd humor, making the topic of loss accessible. For children ages 4 to 8, it's a reassuring tale that shows how determination, and a little help from others, can lead to a happy reunion, demonstrating that even sad stories can have joyful endings.
The central event is the perceived death of a main character. The approach is metaphorical and fantastical; the cricket is swallowed whole and later rescued completely unharmed. The resolution is entirely hopeful and magical, avoiding any realistic depiction of death. The story is a secular folktale.
Ideal Reader
A 4 to 6-year-old who is sensitive and experiencing a temporary but deeply felt loss. For example, a child whose best friend just moved, whose favorite toy broke, or who is sad about a pet being at the vet. The book validates the bigness of their feelings while promising a hopeful, albeit silly, resolution.
Parent Prep
A parent should preview the page where the cricket is swallowed by the fish. While not graphic, the text "GULP!" and the image could be startling for a very sensitive child. A quick reassurance that everything will be okay in the end might be helpful. Otherwise, the book can be read cold as the folktale structure is familiar and comforting. The parent sees their child inconsolably sad over something that seems minor to an adult but is world-ending to the child. The child might say, "I'll never be happy again!" or "Everything is ruined forever!" This book models how sadness can be both deep and temporary.
Age Experience
A younger child (4-5) will latch onto the repetitive, cumulative structure and the visual humor of the king in his underwear. They will experience the core emotions of sadness and joy very directly. An older child (6-8) will better appreciate the cleverness of the chain reaction and the theme of empathy, understanding how one creature's sadness can ripple outward to affect an entire community.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many books on loss which are somber and realistic, this one uses a classic folktale structure and over-the-top humor to tackle the theme. The cumulative chain-of-empathy plot is unique, showing how one's feelings can impact others. The resolution is pure, uncomplicated joy, which is a refreshing and reassuring take on overcoming sadness.
Read plot summary
A beautiful butterfly marries a cricket for his sweet singing voice. Shortly after, he falls into a stream and is swallowed by a fish. The butterfly's immense grief sets off a cumulative chain reaction: she weeps, so a dove stops cooing, which causes a fountain to stop flowing, which makes a princess stop playing, and finally causes the king to be so distraught he forgets to get dressed. The king, in his underwear, investigates the source of the sadness, tracing it back to the butterfly. He catches the fish, cuts it open, and the cricket emerges unharmed. All are reunited and celebrate.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
The butterfly was so sad that the dove stopped singing. Have you ever felt so sad that it changed what you wanted to do?
2
The king was in his underwear when he decided to help! Why do you think the author made that part so silly in a sad story?
3
Everyone from the dove to the princess to the king helped the butterfly. Who are the people who help you when you are feeling sad?
4
The butterfly chose her husband because of his sweet voice. What are some special things you love about the people in your family?
