Caterpillars Dotty and Stripe do everything together. They play, they eat leaves and do all sorts of caterpiller-y things, and then one day, after spinning themselves into snuggly cocoons, they wake up as beautiful butterflies! But soon they realise that, for the first time ever, they look different. Should Dotty only play with butterflies that look like her' And Stripe only play with butterflies that look like him'

How does a young woman, who hears but cannot speak, end up as the director, choreographer, and premiere danseuse for a world famous school and dance company for (believe it or not) deaf and mute dancers? Our heroine, Lynette Barker, is blessed with parents who are wealthy, successful actors, a fine home and servants. Unfortunately, when she is found to be mute, her mother denies her existence and her father sees her as "broken" and, blind to her needs, leaves her in the care of the servants. It was left to Lynette to find her own way and, with the loving support of the housekeeper, and butler, and two deaf friends whom she had found signing in the park, she was able to enter a school for the deaf and begin to joyfully live and learn as she had always wished. Lynette's father, Belton Barker, a renowned actor, busied himself with his career and his wife and not only never saw what was going on in his daughter's life, but managed to continually block her from doing what she needed to do. The ongoing struggle is devastating for Lynette and the last battle with her father - and her mother who tries to kill her - leaves her in the hospital in full pscyhologist retreat. Her father, finally realizing his culpability and fearful for her life, finally listens to the servants, teachers, and friends, who have kept a round-the-clock vigil at the hospital and begins to see who his daughter really is - a whole, quite wonderful person - and plans to help her develop the life she wants. Lynette is so angry with him that she will not accept anything from him directly but he remembers that at the sound of any music Lynette has danced since she could walk so he arranges for a young woman, who has found a way to teach the deaf to dance, to teach in Lynette's school and thus begins her career. Lynette finally discovers that it was her father who made all this possible for her and they become reconciled. Having found a way to do what she loves most, Lynette trains hard and learns to be a dancer and choreographer and finally, along with her two friends, Dan as Business Manager (and later husband), and Elsie as costumer, opens a school of dance and a dance company for deaf and mute dancers. With the addition of other dancers and teachers, the school/dance company becomes an unprecedented success and because of their unusual focus and teaching methods they become internationally known. Where they go from here is an open question.

In Dancing with Butterflies, Reyna Grande renders the Mexican immigrant experience in “lyrical and sensual” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) prose through the poignant stories of four women brought together through folklorico dance. Dancing with Butterflies uses the alternating voices of four very different women whose lives interconnect through a common passion for their Mexican heritage and a dance company called Alegría. Yesenia, who founded Alegría with her husband, Eduardo, sabotages her own efforts to remain a vital, vibrant woman when she travels back and forth across the Mexican border for cheap plastic surgery. Elena, grief-stricken by the death of her only child and the end of her marriage, finds herself falling dangerously in love with one of her underage students. Elena's sister, Adriana, wears the wounds of abandonment by a dysfunctional family and becomes unable to discern love from abuse. Soledad, the sweet-tempered illegal immigrant who designs costumes for Alegría, finds herself stuck back in Mexico, where she returns to see her dying grandmother. Reyna Grande has brought these fictional characters so convincingly to life that readers will imagine they know them.

Caterpillars Dotty and Stripe do everything together. They play, they eat leaves and do all sorts of caterpiller-y things, and then one day, after spinning themselves into snuggly cocoons, they wake up as beautiful butterflies! But soon they realise that, for the first time ever, they look different. Should Dotty only play with butterflies that look like her? And Stripe only play with butterflies that look like him? A stunningly illustrated story about friendship and and being happy with who you are, from the author/illustrator of Waterstones Children's Book Prize shortlisted The Dawn Chorus.

In this eye-catching, interactive introduction to the miracle of metamorphosis, children can count backwards from five to one as colorful caterpillars change into gorgeous foil butterflies with each turn of the die-cut pages!

Poetry. African American Studies. Melba Joyce Boyd's latest poetry offering is an insightful examination of her relationships with family, friends, and collegues. She writes of the complexities, joys and sadnesses of lives shared, and the influences of daily living on them. As Jayne Cortez notes, "Life opposed to death, death opposed to life in New Orleans, in Detroit, in DEATH DANCE OF A BUTTERFLY. Melba Joyce Boyd's most important volume of poetry is filled with interactions, eulogies, and 'streets beneath water stains.' It is a collection flashing with poetic development."

With breathtaking illustrations and a touching story, this dazzling picture book introduces young readers to one of nature's most magnificent and essential insects: the butterfly. See how a little girl recovering from poor health finds wonder in nature and delights in planting a garden with her father to attract a fascinating array of butterflies. Exploring the life stages of butterflies, their importance to our ecosystems and the revitalising power of nature, this book is a heart-warming information story for children who love the outdoors and all its incredible creatures. At the back of the book, discover tips on how to create your own wildlife garden to attract betterflies!