About the Holiday

Did you know that some moths are even more beautiful than butterflies? It’s true! Adorned in vibrant oranges, greens, blues, and reds and with patterns more intricate than the finest fabrics, moths are some of nature’s loveliest creatures. There are even moths that mimic hummingbirds—right down to the fast-beating wings and a looong proboscis that looks like a beak. During the summer, moths love visiting fragrant flower gardens. National Moth Week celebrates these unique insects from July 18 through July 26. This week and all during the summer, take a little time to really look at the moths in your yard and learn more about them and their habitats.

Thanks to Sleeping Bear Press for sending me a copy of An Extraordinary Ordinary Moth for review! 

An Extraordinary Ordinary Moth

Written by Karlin Gray | Illustrated by Steliyana Doneva

As a grayish-brown moth flits among the leaves framed by the full moon, he says, “I’m an ordinary moth, / as you can plainly see. / A dusty, grayish, dull insect— / nothing-special me.”  Comparing himself to the Luna Moth “who floats in graceful green” and to the Spider Moth who’s “so cool at Halloween!,” he’s disappointed to be so much smaller than the Atlas Moth and not as pretty as a butterfly.

But then a little boy runs through the yard shouting “‘A moth! A moth!’” The moth freezes against a wall, afraid and unsure and hoping to hide. But when the moth sees the excitement in the boy’s eyes, he moves “toward his joyful light.” He lands in the boy’s hands, uncertain still if he’ll be shooed away. And sure enough, the boy’s sister screams, “‘Ew, a bug!’” She swats at her brother’s hand, and the moth flies off.

The moth hears the boy correct his sister and insists “‘he’s my favorite kind!’” The moth then realizes that the boy is trailing him wherever he goes, watching. The boy’s sister thinks the moth is nothing special, but he disagrees. And as the moth alights on his finger, he shows her why. What looks like dust are really “‘scales that keep him warm at night” and have other beneficial features.

Hearing these facts, his sister is a bit more interested, but she still thinks his color is “kind of blah.” The boy explains that the moth is the color of tree bark and can camouflage himself during the day while he sleeps. Then at night he’s ready to fly, guided by moonlight and the scents he smells through his antennae. Now the little girl thinks the moth is pretty cool. She calls their mom to come and see, and when Mom wants to know what bug they found, “the girl says, ‘Mom—a moth’s an insect, / and our favorite kind!’”

Suddenly proud, the moth soars through the moonlight with a new self image—“So how ‘bout THAT?! / I’m someone’s FAVORITE! / Little grayish me— / proof of how / EXTRAORDINARY / ordinary can be.”

Back matter includes Ten Extraordinary Facts about Moths as well as an activity for constructing a Moth-Observation Box.

Through her vivacious rhymes, Karlin Gray elevates the “ordinary” back-porch moth to star status with fascinating facts that will lure kids to discover more. The conversational verses echo a sweet sibling relationship while the moth, overhearing them, begins to appreciate himself. The bookending of the children’s story with the moth’s thoughts—first comparing himself to other moths and later realizing his own merits—will encourage readers to think about both the nature of nature and the importance of positive interactions with others. Told from the moth’s point of view, the story also has a deeper meaning, reminding readers that, like this moth, people also have special talents  that make them exceptional. Taking extra time to really learn about another’s unique qualities and to get to know them is exciting and has benefits for all.  

Steliyana Doneva’s gorgeous illustrations of moths and butterflies will dazzle insect-loving kids and convert the more squeamish. Doneva captures each delicate marking and texture of the little grayish moth as it flits in the light and camouflages itself on the wall and tree. The moth is also well spotlighted against Doneva’s vibrant backyard oasis where the little boy and his sister discover him. Nighttime scenes sparkle with starlight, and the full moon brings out the rich blues of an evening sky. The boy’s enthusiasm for moths and nature is infectious and will captivate young readers, enticing them to look closer at the world around them.

An Extraordinary Ordinary Moth is a beautiful, eye-opening book that would spur further discovery for nature and science lovers at home and in science or STEM classrooms.

Ages 4 – 8

Sleeping Bear Press, 2018 | ISBN 978-1-58536-372-8

Karlin Gray is not a lepidopterist―a scientist who studies moths and butterflies. But when her son announced that the moth was his favorite insect, she decided to take a closer look at the little creature. When she did, she learned some extraordinary things and was inspired to write An Ordinary Moth. Karlin is also the author of Nadia: The Girl Who Couldn’t Sit Still. She lives in Connecticut with her family. Visit her at karlingray.com.

Steliyana Doneva is a children’s book illustrator living in Sofia, Bulgaria. Her love of painting and drawing started in early childhood. Steliyana studied applied arts in Sofia, specializing in children’s toys. Then she graduated with a degree in graphic arts, where she found her love for children’s book illustration. Steliyana is very happy to be an illustrator for children’s books. By doing this she is immersed in a beautiful fairy-tale world where the soul can fly without restraint. Follow her on Instagram.

National Moth Week Activity

Beautiful Moths Board Game

Moths go through many stages of metamorphosis—from egg to caterpillar to cocoon— before they finally emerge as a moth. In this game, help six moths emerge from their cocoons to win!

Supplies

• Printable Tree Branch Game Board Template
• Printable Moth Cards
• Printable Moth Playing Die

Directions

1. Print a Tree Branch Game Board and set of Moth Cards for each player
2. Print one Moth Playing Die
3. Choose a player to go first
4. The first player rolls the die and places the matching moth card on one of the cocoons on the Tree Branch Game Board
5. Play then moves to the player on the left
6. Players continue to roll the die and place moths on each cocoon
7. If a player rolls a moth that they already have placed on their game board, they pass the die to the next player and wait for their next turn.
8. The player who fills their Tree Branch with moths first is the winner

You can find An Extraordinary Ordinary Moth at these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop