Wordless Picture Book: Yellow Butterfly

 

Yellow Butterfly: A Story From Ukraine

by Okeksandr Shatokhin

Illustrations by the author

Red Comet Press

2023

72 pages

ISBN: 978636550640

Reviews: 

"Using the colors of his national flag, the Ukrainian author-illustrator of this wordless picture book paints a moving portrait of a young child whose hope for the future transforms a dark world of war into a bright blue sky where yellow butterflies flutter freely."–The New York Times

“Using modest means, the author evokes the darkness of war and a vision of peace. Quite an achievement for a wordless picture book!” –Uri Shulevitz, Caldecott medal winner and author of the autobiography Chance: Escape from the Holocaust, Memories of a Refugee Childhood

My review: 

Yellow Butterfly is a wordless picture book that packs a punch! 

The author's note on the back of the book is full of hope, promise and peace: "My book is about faith, hope, and the belief that after the war, after our victory, life will go on, everything will be restored, and we will live in a new peaceful Ukraine. The memories of those who died in this war will help us heal. And yellow butterflies will flutter freely in free Ukraine." --Oleksandr Shatokhin

A stark story of war told in bold, strong, threatening black illustrations with barbed wire, bombs and explosions, yet in the midst of the danger and peril, hope emerges. Children play, and butterflies come back. First a few, then an explosion of yellow wings dance across full page spreads. A young girl is followed by "wings" of butterflies here.

Yellow Butterfly is the best example of a wordless picture book I've ever seen. This picture book is a glory to hold and behold. Children will love telling the story their own way, using the pictures to guide them. As black and gray give in to yellow and blue, the story is filled with hope for a better world. 

Yellow Butterfly is a must have, must read. Don't miss this picture book. It is likely to win many awards. 

Highly recommended ages 4 and up.