The Butterfly Inside

A Story of Courage, Determination, Self-esteem and Friendship

Children - Picture Book
39 Pages
Reviewed on 05/23/2023
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite

The Butterfly Inside: A Story of Courage, Determination, Self-esteem and Friendship, written by Serena Lane Ferrari and illustrated by Giorgia Vallicelli, is a children's picture book that revolves around a young elf named Oliver who wishes for nothing more than to be a butterfly. The book begins with an introduction to our hopeful little elf and his decision to create wings out of strong, colorful flower petals. He seeks out the help of his animal friends for advice, encouragement, and assistance in attaching his wings and learning to fly with them. As Oliver is on the journey from elf to butterfly, he is made fun of by laughing crows who are delighted by the difficulty Oliver has. Ultimately, Oliver proves the crows wrong.

The first thing that stands out in The Butterfly Inside is the gorgeous illustrations by Giorgia Vallicelli, who employs a blend of muted earth tones and pastels to breathe life into Oliver and his surroundings. The artwork is reminiscent of some of the best illustrations in children's literature and carries Serena Lane Ferrari's narrative beautifully. As for Oliver, his portrayal as a determined elf that presses on even when the odds are steeply stacked against him is as inspiring as it is entertaining. I think most of us remember parts of our childhoods where we wished to be lifted up by balloons or fly with all manner of household items we thought might make the dream a reality. So, it was really fun as a parent now to read Ferrari's book to the kids and then laugh over some of the funnier attempts we've made to fly. Overall, The Butterfly Inside is a perfect addition to the bedtime story rotation. Very highly recommended.

Jamie Michele

Author Serena Lane Ferrari and illustrator Giorgia Vallicelli combine their incredible talents in the children's story The Butterfly Inside: A Story of Courage. This courage comes from a little elf named Oliver who would prefer to be a creature altogether different. Oliver wants to be a butterfly! But how does an elf go about becoming a butterfly? He turns to his woodland friends such as Mr. Owl, who flies Oliver and the petals he's picked out to use as wings to Captain Ant, who shapes the petals into wings. Oliver ventures from one helpful friend to another but his campaign attracts some very mean crows who laugh at Oliver over and over again. Is it true that someone can be anything they want to be? Can an elf really become a butterfly?

The Butterfly Inside: A Story of Courage is adorable. Our family loves books that champion an underdog, or in the story of Oliver, an under-elf, so Serena Lane Ferrari's tale received plenty of smiles. I have a very young and new reader in my home who found most of the book easy enough to read independently. There were a handful of words she couldn't get beyond, like 'transformation' and 'fastening', and she did get slightly frustrated that she couldn't read the book entirely on her own [and these words are too advanced for her age to even learn and commit to memory], but she did fancy the plot itself. The illustrations created by Giorgia Vallicelli are marvelous. The proof that a book's illustrations have captured the heart and imagination of a child is when their tiny fingers linger on a page that they aren't ready to turn. Vallicelli's art accomplished this many times over. For adults wanting books that promote self-help and stories that promote perseverance to stay true to oneself to achieve dreams out of reach, this book is a perfect fit.

Michelle Robertson

The Butterfly Inside by Serena Lane Ferrari tells the tale of Oliver the elf who lives in the forest among all the other creatures and insects. His favorite of them all is the butterfly. He loves butterflies so much he wishes he could fly just as they do. Oliver sets out on a journey to do just that. He begins by deciding how he could make the best wings to resemble a butterfly and fly like one too. Following some failures, some creatures laugh at him in disbelief, others persuade him to ask another creature, and some give extremely helpful advice. Will Oliver continue his adventure of flying like a butterfly and heed the advice of those who support him, or will he give up and become saddened by the crows who laughed at him?

The Butterfly Inside is a delightful inspirational children's picture book by Serena Lane Ferrari. The pictures are drawn incredibly well, with vibrant exciting colors. With a well-thought-out plot and developed characters, this book will be highly relatable to young readers. The message of perseverance the author portrays throughout its pages will encourage young readers never to give up on themselves or their dreams despite what obstacles and difficulties they may face. This book is great for any young child to read themselves or have a parent or guardian read to them. Libraries and pre-schools would benefit from this book with its message which teaches young readers self-confidence and the importance of support from friends.