The Butterfly House by Harry Woodgate

Butterfly House is written and illustrated by Waterstones Prize-winning author, Harry Woodgate. It tells the story of a young girl, Holly, who is fascinated by an old overgrown house at the end of her street. In her words… “It was wild and green, and mist curled around it like the fingers of a ghost.” She goes there one day as she thought the house looked empty but she discovers that someone does indeed live there - Miss Brown who may look frightening but has her own story. Holly is told not to go back and bother her, but she cannot stop thinking about Miss Brown and sends her the most delightful letter.

Miss Brown responds to Holly’s letter and shares with her about how her brain has been ill and the garden has become too much for her. Holly then decides to find out about making a butterfly garden and spends time over the next few weeks researching and learning about these gardens and working on the school allotment. She shares what she has learnt with Miss Brown through letters until finally Holly asks if she and her brother Arlo could help to bring butterflies back to Miss Brown’s garden. It seems like a huge task for two young children and after trying their best, Holly decides to reach out to her street community. On the Saturday it seems the whole street has turned up to help bring the garden back to life and eventually provide Miss Brown with a safe place for her head and her heart.

This beautiful book is a joy to read. It shows how a small act of kindness can grow and change someone’s life. The striking crayon/pencil illustrations that provide so much depth to the narrative are a visual treat as are the glossy images on the front cover and the clever endpapers. Highly recommended for all libraries.

Themes: Mental Illness, Loneliness, Gardens, Neighbourhood, Kindness, Community, Support, Butterflies, Letter Writing.

Kathryn Beilby