In this "deeply personal and lyrical book" (Publishers Weekly) from
the New York Times bestselling author of The Horse, Wendy Williams
explores the lives of one of the world's most resilient creatures--the
butterfly--shedding light on the role that they play in our ecosystem
and in our human lives.
"[A] glorious and exuberant celebration of these biological flying
machines...Williams takes us on a humorous and beautifully crafted
journey" (The Washington Post). From butterfly gardens to zoo
exhibits, these "flying flowers" are one of the few insects we've
encouraged to infiltrate our lives. Yet, what has drawn us to these
creatures in the first place? And what are their lives really like? In
this "entertaining look at 'the world's favorite insect'" (Booklist,
starred review), New York Times bestselling author and science
journalist Wendy Williams reveals the inner lives of these delicate
creatures, who are far more intelligent and tougher than we give them
credit for.
Monarch butterflies migrate thousands of miles each year from Canada to
Mexico. Other species have learned how to fool ants into taking care of
them. Butterflies' scales are inspiring researchers to create new
life-saving medical technology. Williams takes readers to butterfly
habitats across the globe and introduces us to not only various species,
but "digs deeply into the lives of both butterflies and [the]
scientists" (Science magazine) who have spent decades studying them.
Coupled with years of research and knowledge gained from experts in the
field, this accessible "butterfly biography" explores the ancient
partnership between these special creatures and humans, and why they
continue to fascinate us today. "Informative, thought-provoking,"
(BookPage, starred review) and extremely profound, The Language of
Butterflies is a "fascinating book [that] will be of interest to
anyone who has ever admired a butterfly, and anyone who cares about
preserving these stunning creatures" (Library Journal).
