What do you think?
Rate this book
Jerry Pallotta's Alphabet Books
The Butterfly Alphabet Book
Welcome to the wonder and beauty of butterflies! Look through the wings of a Transparent, marvel at the size of the Queen Alexandra Birdwing, and try to find the camouflaged Indian Leaf Butterfly! Learn about these amazing butterflies, and more, as you read from A to Z about a group of the world's most beautiful insects. Jerry Pallotta and Brian Cassie's fun, informative text, accompanied by Mark Astrella's detailed and breathtaking illustrations, will be a sure favorite with both the young butterfly lover and the experienced lepidopterist!
32 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 1995
About the author
Jerry Pallotta
208 books106 followersMy full name is Gerard Larry Pallotta but my mom always called me "Jerry". I was born on March 26, 1953 in Boston, Massachusetts. My mom's name is Mary, and she came from a family of ten children. My dad's name is Joe, and he came from a family of five children. My grandparents were immigrants of Italian descent. I have the nicest parents in the world. They have always been unselfish and ready to help me, even today. I have four brothers and two sisters: Joey, David, Andrew, Danny, Cindy and Mickey. I have seventy-two first cousins. When I was growing up, there were...KIDS EVERYWHERE!
My family moved to Medford, Massachusetts when I was young. I went to elementary school at Mt. Trinity Academy, not far from where my publisher is located in Watertown, Massachusetts. I never wrote a book in elementary school, and we never kept journals. In the neighborhood where I grew up, almost every family had seven to nine children. I guess that you could say that there were...KIDS EVERYWHERE!
I went to high school at Boston College High School, a Jesuit all-boys school in downtown Boston. The priests and other teachers were really wonderful. I played football and ran track. I had a great high school experience and I think later it made my studies in college much easier. My sons Neil and Eric graduated from Boston College High School in 2001 and 2003. Neil was named after a teacher I had, Fr. Neil Callahan, S.J. I never wrote a book in high school, and I never wrote for the school newspaper. I was too shy and was afraid of what other kids would think.
After high school I went to Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. I majored in business, a subject that would help me later in life when I decided to publish my first book. At Georgetown, I met my wife, Linda. In college I was an average student and was captain of the Georgetown University Rugby Team. I never wrote for the college newspaper, and I never imaged writing books. A couple of years later, Linda and I got married and I started to work at an insurance company in Boston. During the first six years of being married, we had four kids. It seemed like there were...KIDS EVERYWHERE!
Today, we spend a lot of time with my 31 nieces and nephews...again...KIDS EVERYWHERE!
I learned valuable skills while talking to people, selling insurance and collecting money. When I came home from work, Linda would ask me to "read to the kids!" I loved reading to my kids and I learned to appreciate children's books. The first few books that we bought were alphabet books and counting books. "A" was always for Apple and "Z" was always for Zebra. One day I decided, "Hey, I can do this!" I had an idea. I would write an alphabet book about the Atlantic Ocean. I spent every summer at Peggotty Beach in Scituate, Massachusetts. I have great memories of lobstering, fishing, mossing, clamming and rowing in my dory.
My first book was written in 1985 when I was 32 years old. I came up with the idea, wrote it, designed it, researched it, edited it and my cousin, Frank Mazzola, Jr. illustrated it. I published it myself under the name of Peggotty Beach Books. What fun! It was first printed on July 7, 1986. I'll never forget that day. The book eventually became the #1 best selling book at the New England Aquarium. I was afraid that only my mother would like it. Teachers and kids told me they really liked my book.
While speaking in schools, teachers also told me they were looking for simple non-fiction nature books. It gave me the confidence to write more. My next book, "The Icky Bug Alphabet Book", has sold more than 1 million copies. My third book, "The Bird Alphabet Book" was voted one of the best books of the year by Birders World Magazine. I now have over twenty alphabet books. My goal has always been to write interesting, fact-filled, fun to read, beautifully illustrated color children's books. Thank you to all my illustrators: Ralph Masiello, Frank Mazzola, Jr., Rob Bolster, Edgar Stewart, Leslie
My family moved to Medford, Massachusetts when I was young. I went to elementary school at Mt. Trinity Academy, not far from where my publisher is located in Watertown, Massachusetts. I never wrote a book in elementary school, and we never kept journals. In the neighborhood where I grew up, almost every family had seven to nine children. I guess that you could say that there were...KIDS EVERYWHERE!
I went to high school at Boston College High School, a Jesuit all-boys school in downtown Boston. The priests and other teachers were really wonderful. I played football and ran track. I had a great high school experience and I think later it made my studies in college much easier. My sons Neil and Eric graduated from Boston College High School in 2001 and 2003. Neil was named after a teacher I had, Fr. Neil Callahan, S.J. I never wrote a book in high school, and I never wrote for the school newspaper. I was too shy and was afraid of what other kids would think.
After high school I went to Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. I majored in business, a subject that would help me later in life when I decided to publish my first book. At Georgetown, I met my wife, Linda. In college I was an average student and was captain of the Georgetown University Rugby Team. I never wrote for the college newspaper, and I never imaged writing books. A couple of years later, Linda and I got married and I started to work at an insurance company in Boston. During the first six years of being married, we had four kids. It seemed like there were...KIDS EVERYWHERE!
Today, we spend a lot of time with my 31 nieces and nephews...again...KIDS EVERYWHERE!
I learned valuable skills while talking to people, selling insurance and collecting money. When I came home from work, Linda would ask me to "read to the kids!" I loved reading to my kids and I learned to appreciate children's books. The first few books that we bought were alphabet books and counting books. "A" was always for Apple and "Z" was always for Zebra. One day I decided, "Hey, I can do this!" I had an idea. I would write an alphabet book about the Atlantic Ocean. I spent every summer at Peggotty Beach in Scituate, Massachusetts. I have great memories of lobstering, fishing, mossing, clamming and rowing in my dory.
My first book was written in 1985 when I was 32 years old. I came up with the idea, wrote it, designed it, researched it, edited it and my cousin, Frank Mazzola, Jr. illustrated it. I published it myself under the name of Peggotty Beach Books. What fun! It was first printed on July 7, 1986. I'll never forget that day. The book eventually became the #1 best selling book at the New England Aquarium. I was afraid that only my mother would like it. Teachers and kids told me they really liked my book.
While speaking in schools, teachers also told me they were looking for simple non-fiction nature books. It gave me the confidence to write more. My next book, "The Icky Bug Alphabet Book", has sold more than 1 million copies. My third book, "The Bird Alphabet Book" was voted one of the best books of the year by Birders World Magazine. I now have over twenty alphabet books. My goal has always been to write interesting, fact-filled, fun to read, beautifully illustrated color children's books. Thank you to all my illustrators: Ralph Masiello, Frank Mazzola, Jr., Rob Bolster, Edgar Stewart, Leslie
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 21, 2021
Really well-written. Satisfying - L is for Lifecycle, and explains the origins of butterflies (important to know). But L is ALSO for Lady Slipper. (S is for scales - a detailed examination of butterfly wing scales magnified. But S is also for the Snout butterfly. Butterflies don't have noses, but .. etc.). I like that there is a butterfly for each letter, and some letters have extra info as well. A great mix of interesting factual info, and pretty butterflies. Glad I got this for a small, aspiring Lepidoptrist. ;)
May 3, 2021
Fun and informative with beautiful illustrations!
November 30, 2019
This is great for fifth graders. The whole series would be good intros into learning to research.
February 17, 2020
my butterfly is name jezabel now that my nickname for now on. This butterfly has red, yellow,black,and white wings but i am Australia butterfly nickname
December 28, 2020
Lovely artwork! A nice variety of butterflies from around the world.
April 3, 2022
"Be careful butterflies are fragile". Thanks for the book, Granny!
July 24, 2022
Lots of interesting and fun facts. Nice pics.
May 1, 2019
Genre: Picture Book (Alphabet Book)
Awards: NA
Audience: 3rd grade
A. I know that this is an alphabet book because the title says it is an alphabet book. Also, there is one letter represented per page.
B. One element used throughout the book was color. All of the pages are beautifully painted, but all of the colors are chosen to compliment the butterfly on the page. The colors of the butterfly stand out on each page.
C. I would use this book as a science resource for my students because it gives information on multiple species of butterflies.
D. Where does the Eastern Comma butterfly live?
Answer: They live in the woods.
Awards: NA
Audience: 3rd grade
A. I know that this is an alphabet book because the title says it is an alphabet book. Also, there is one letter represented per page.
B. One element used throughout the book was color. All of the pages are beautifully painted, but all of the colors are chosen to compliment the butterfly on the page. The colors of the butterfly stand out on each page.
C. I would use this book as a science resource for my students because it gives information on multiple species of butterflies.
D. Where does the Eastern Comma butterfly live?
Answer: They live in the woods.
July 3, 2017
I remember when I first came upon this author and it was since of my elementary school. We had an assembly where the author was invited and ever since he told me there was a Julia butterfly I have been hooked with him.
The book writing is simple, large letters and easy for any child to read, especially with very young beginners. The author uses each entry to describe some fun facts for the children
The other thing that will catch the reader's attention is the beautiful detailed artwork and the interactive reading style that asks the reader to answer a question or whether you thought a non-butterfly was an actual butterfly. There are other parts that will have the reader trying to find the butterflies while the author closes with a suggestion that the reader go look for butterflies in their neighborhood with the put in warning to be careful since they are fragile (brownie points).
I was just disappointed a bit that the Julia butterfly wasn't included....
Definitely a literary gem!
The book writing is simple, large letters and easy for any child to read, especially with very young beginners. The author uses each entry to describe some fun facts for the children
The other thing that will catch the reader's attention is the beautiful detailed artwork and the interactive reading style that asks the reader to answer a question or whether you thought a non-butterfly was an actual butterfly. There are other parts that will have the reader trying to find the butterflies while the author closes with a suggestion that the reader go look for butterflies in their neighborhood with the put in warning to be careful since they are fragile (brownie points).
I was just disappointed a bit that the Julia butterfly wasn't included....
Definitely a literary gem!
August 16, 2021
Remember how I said Sean is currently really into alphabet books? The Butterfly Alphabet Book is another of Sean's recent selections from the library. It was doubly interesting to him because he was also studying butterflies and moths at school.
Butterflies have exotic names especially when you take their latin names into account. Each letter of the alphabet is represented by beautifully drawn butterflies and is followed with short but interesting descriptions.
If you have a budding lepidopterologist or alphabetologist (or in my case, both), I highly recommend this lovely book.
Butterflies have exotic names especially when you take their latin names into account. Each letter of the alphabet is represented by beautifully drawn butterflies and is followed with short but interesting descriptions.
If you have a budding lepidopterologist or alphabetologist (or in my case, both), I highly recommend this lovely book.
October 11, 2015
The Butterfly Alphabet Book by Brian Cassie and Jerry Pallotta, Illustrated by Mark Astrella
This book is a great way to learn science through the alphabet because it is using nature to represent each letter. Each letter represents different species of butterflies from A through Z. Each page has a picture of a butterfly with text that invites children to learn and associates each butterfly with its name and interesting information. The Butterfly Alphabet Book is very informative for children of all ages with wonderful illustration.
This book is a great way to learn science through the alphabet because it is using nature to represent each letter. Each letter represents different species of butterflies from A through Z. Each page has a picture of a butterfly with text that invites children to learn and associates each butterfly with its name and interesting information. The Butterfly Alphabet Book is very informative for children of all ages with wonderful illustration.
April 14, 2012
I never knew there were so many different types of butterflies. I love how they use the alphabet to name the type of butterfly and gives information about that type of butterfly. The book tell's you the name of each butterfly, and tell's you where you can find this butterfly, and how its' name originated. I really love the pictures in this book, the pictures are a beautiful scenery.
June 7, 2009
Jerry Pallota has written a great series of alphabet books that are arranged around themes. This one about butterflies is as good as all of them with lots of interesting facts about butterflies.
January 29, 2015
This book was chalk full of information. There is quite a few bigger vocab words so I think that this would be like 4th 5th grade book. I choose the book because I like butterfly's. I learned a lot from this children's book.
June 26, 2009
Another great Jerry Pallotta book, this book is particularly informative about butterflies. The illustrations are beautiful and I love the information included in the book.
November 18, 2010
Great for younger grades. The illustrations are amazing. The typical aphabet book that you can tie in with science.
February 20, 2015
This book is great for older students. Has so much information about butterflies! I
learned a lot about butterflies reading this book.
learned a lot about butterflies reading this book.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews