Farfalla: A Story of Loss and Hope

The story is told from the perspective of a young Beetle who, with his mother, meets a crowd of caterpillars in the garden they all frequent. Soon they become friends and he watches in awe as the caterpillars weave themselves into cocoons. A special one catches his attention and Beetle "adopts" it by making all sorts of plans of what they will do together when it hatches. Later, he watches as the cocoons break open one by one and beautiful butterflies emerge and fly away. But the one he counted on to be his playmate does not. He is deeply saddened and understandably confused. Beetle's mother explains gently that young friends like his who can't join him in the garden are with others in the sky. The story ends with Beetle waving to his friend above and wishing happiness.

Author: Vanita Oelschlager, Kristin Blackwood
Publisher: Vanita Books
Published: 09/01/2012
Pages: 40
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.63lbs
Size: 10.96h x 8.56w x 0.51d
ISBN: 9780983290438

Review Citation(s):
School Library Journal 12/01/2012

About the Author

Vanita Oelschlager is a wife, mother, grandmother, philanthropist, former teacher, current caregiver, author and poet. She is a graduate of Mt. Union College in Alliance, Ohio, where she currently serves as a Trustee. Vanita is also Writer in Residence for the Literacy Program at The University of Akron. She and her husband Jim received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in 2006. She won the Congressional 'Angels in Adoption' Award for the state of Ohio in 2007 and was named National Volunteer of the Year by the MS society in 2008. She was honored as 2009 Woman Philanthropist of the Year by the Summit County United Way. In May 2011, Vanita received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from University of Mount Union.
Prior to her publishing and writing career, Vanita taught school for 19 years and then helped her husband with his company, Oak Associates. Mother of two daughters, stepmother to a son and daughter, she is grandmother to seven.

Kristin Blackwood is a teacher and frequent illustrator of books for children. Her works of art are published in: My Grampy Can't Walk, Let Me Bee, What Pet Will I Get?, Made in China, Big Blue, Ivy in Bloom and Ivan's Great Fall, A Tale of Two Daddies, Bonyo Bonyo, Carrot, and Elefante. A graduate of Kent State University, Kristin has a degree in Art History. When she isn't designing or teaching, she enjoys being a mother to her two daughters.