Monarchs on Every Page
"You must want to fly so much that you are willing to give up being a caterpillar."
— Trina Paulus, Hope for the Flowers
Did you know? There’s a monarch butterfly hidden on every page of Bye-Bye, Boobies. I added them quietly, almost like a secret, for little ones to find as they listen to the story. Each one is placed gently in the background or along the edge of the action, waiting to be noticed.
Monarchs have always felt magical to me. Their wings are soft and bold at the same time, and their journey is incredible. They begin right here in Ontario and fly all the way to Mexico. It’s something many people don’t realise. We are so lucky to have these butterflies be a part of our summer landscape in Canada.
One of my favourite things each year is visiting the local park when the monarchs are released. There’s always a group of people who have cared for them all summer, and seeing the butterflies take flight never gets old. It’s quiet and beautiful and full of hope.
By tucking monarchs into the book, I wanted to share a little piece of that wonder. They don’t call attention to themselves, but they’re there, fluttering through the story in quiet moments. For families who’ve seen them in real life, they might feel familiar. For those who haven’t yet, maybe they’ll spark curiosity.
Below is a peek at my sketching process, including a few of the monarch poses that appear throughout the book.
🖍️ Free Colouring Page
You can download a black-and-white version of these butterflies as a printable colouring page! Whether it’s for Storytime, a quiet afternoon, or just because, it’s a little something to enjoy.
Colour the Monarchs
Click to download the printable colouring page (PDF).
If your little one colours this page, I’d love to see it. Tag @little_goodbyes on Instagram so I can share it too.
You can always find this and other free resources on our Resources page.
