Butterfly on the Wind

February 5, 2024
Two Deaf creators celebrate sign language in a buoyant story starring butterflies—further described in an author’s note as a “central symbol of Deaf culture.” Anxious in advance of performing a fairy tale at a talent show, “saying the words with her hands,” Aurora finds that her fingers “stumble over one another.” She wishes she could fly away, and remembers her father telling her that “some people say a butterfly’s wings create a wind that carries across the world.” When Aurora signs butterfly, the motion creates a breeze, shaped like the insect, that travels globally, joined by those of other signing children, until the many butterflies return to Aurora’s talent show as a “magnificent” surprise. Using a folkloric narrative pattern, Pottle unifies those using sign language by way of supplying a global, community-based balm for Aurora’s jitters. Chen’s cheery digitally rendered illustrations emphasize movement in flowing hair and water, signing hands of various skin tones, and swirls that symbolize the sparkling butterfly wind. An author’s note concludes. Ages 3–6.

February 15, 2024
A child feels the support of Deaf people around the world. Aurora, a young Deaf girl, is nervously practicing the fairy tale she'll soon sign at her school talent show. A butterfly appears, and she signs the ASL word for butterfly, creating a breeze that sends the creature around the world. As it flutters by, other Deaf children and families make the sign for butterfly, too, adding their own wind and eventually leading to a colorful tornado of butterflies that comes back to Aurora, supporting her as she enters her talent show. Aurora's talent show worries are a jumping-off point for the real point of the story: the connection between Deaf people around the world. Pottle envisions a world where families sign with their Deaf children and Deaf people are linked by their language. This story shows that the slight wind created by signing may seem small but can subtly transform the world, creating, as Pottle puts it in an author's note, "a fantastic storm that could shift mountains and rearrange rivers." This brief but touching tale is a fun read for all, though its important message will especially resonate with Deaf children. The brightly colored illustrations lovingly capture the characters' signing as butterflies swirl across the pages. Aurora is light-skinned with dark hair; other characters are diverse. Simple yet poignant and loving. (ASL alphabet) (Picture book. 3-8)

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May 31, 2024

K-Gr 3-Aurora is Deaf and nervous about an upcoming school performance. She is to share a fairy tale that she wrote, but her hands just won't stop trembling. She notices a butterfly and puts her hopes and worries in her wish to be free like the butterfly as it flies away. Around the world, the butterfly flutters, connecting children who are Deaf in a variety of settings through the motion created by their signing. Bright digital illustrations capture the movement of the signing and the flight of the butterfly through various settings. By story's end, Aurora is able to face her anxiety knowing her concerns have been held aloft by her larger community. VERDICT A lovely story featuring Deaf culture and the power of communication and hope.-John Scott

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