Book Description

William, a studious and curious North Dakota boy, captures a Monarch butterfly—a trophy he wants to present for show-and-tell at school next Friday. The captive girl butterfly, Anka, is able to speak. With a sad, trembling voice, Anka pleads for freedom so she may fulfill her life destiny. Worried to show up at school empty handed, William resists her pleas. But clever Anka bargains for her freedom by enticing William to accompany her as a passenger on her fantastic journey. There is one catch, though: William has to shrink in size and become a miniature boy in order to ride on Anka’s back. William faces a dilemma. Should he set Anka free and show up at school empty handed? Or should he join this girl butterfly on an adventure to an unknown destination? Intrigued, he agrees to join Anka on her special trip. Whisked away on the wings of a butterfly, a whole new world unfolds for William. Together, he and Anka soar south-southwest from North Dakota to the Oyamel fir forests in central Mexico. A strong friendship develops as they depend on each other for survival. They stay for five months at their destination high up in the mountains—the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve. There, William learns much about Monarch butterflies, about survival, and about himself. During their return travels in the spring, William better understands the significance of Anka’s need for freedom. This story is about the importance of friendship and trust. It is also about one of nature’s most amazing wonders—the curious life-cycle and incredible migration of a fourth-generation, eastern Monarch butterfly.