About the Book Olivias only friends are butterflies. When Olivia and her mother move from the countryside, Olivia must leave her fluttering friends behind. Youll make new friends, her mother reassures her -- but no butterflies visit Olivias balcony. Olivia will need to transform her new environment if she wants to see her friends again. Book Synopsis Olivia and her butterfly friends spend all of their time together, until one day everything changes, and Olivia and her mother move to an apartment in the city. Olivia is heartbroken because she doesnt want to leave her butterfly friends behind but her mother assures her that she will make new friends in the city. When Olivia and her mum arrive in the city, its so grey and gloomy that everyone is sheltering inside. Olivia waits for new friends to come and play but no -one appears. So Olivia stands on her empty concrete apartment balcony and calls out to her butterfly friends -- because they always come when she needs them. But this time, even her butterfly friends dont appear. Then Olivia remembers that butterflies need colourful nectar plants, a puddle pool and rocks to rest their wings on, but Olivia doesnt have a garden anymore so she decides to build a butterfly balcony garden using whatever she can find. Olivia waits and waits and waits but her butterflies stay away. Just as Olivia is about to lose hope, a gust of wind blows flowers from her balcony garden across the grey sky and onto her neighbours balconies. People of all ages and cultural ethnicities appear on their balconies to pick up the flowers, and Olivia suddenly knows exactly what she needs to do to attract (human and butterfly) friends. Review Quotes Butterfly Girl is a charming and sensitively illustrated book about friendship and making space for animals, even in an urban environment. - Tomorrows Schools Today Celebrates the beauty of butterflies and nature. Butterflies are popular with children and this story is sure to be too. - Buzz Words a pleasant inspiring read which would make a good addition to your nature themed library.- Armadillo Magazine active book blog Arielle Lis pictures capture the spirit of this charming story. Her city is a grim bank of drab-]coloured skyscrapers, with Olivias balcony forming a bright beacon of flowers. She has also painted thousands of butterflies. - The Source Review Ashley Kwoks text is perfectly suited to the ebb and flow of Olivias experience, and Arielle Lis gorgeous pastel illustrations are exactly right for the mood of the story. Altogether, it is both charming and valuable in a teaching context as well as for pure personal enjoyment, and I highly recommend it to you for Littles from around 4 years upwards.- Just So Stories Butterfly Girl is a story that can help young children feel positive about their capacity to manage change and to influence their own environment, an idea that is increasingly important to explore in light of the profound environmental challenges facing the world. - Picture Book Parents Her latest book helps kids understand that loneliness and the need for friendship crosses all age groups and cultural boundaries, and that a sense of community comes from the joy of nurturing nature around us and taking the time to connect with each other. - Sunday Star Times