The Butterfly House

The Butterfly House by Harry Woodgate (Affirm Press) HB RRP $24.99 ISBN: 9781923135635

Reviewed by Kellie Nissen

We all have that one house on our street, or in our neighbourhood that’s a bit wild. Maybe the garden is overgrown, or the curtains are always closed. Whatever it is, there’s something ominous about the house and, sometimes, mysterious about whoever lives there.

Stories about old houses with unknown inhabitants being the source of childhood fear and rumours are somewhat classic – and possibly a trope. The Butterfly House takes this outline and turns it into an uplifting story with a strong message about finding out the truth before making judgements, and the importance of helping others in need.

Holly is intrigued by Miss Brown’s garden, which, despite its wild appearance, she sees as something from a fairytale rather than a place to be feared. Against her brother Arlo’s warning, Holly sneaks in for a closer look – only to be surprised by Miss Brown’s appearance at the window.

Rather than being frightened, however, Holly realises that Miss Brown may just be lonely – or that she may need help. So, she organises a working bee to tidy up the garden.

For a picture book, The Butterfly House seems to be a bit wordier than what we’d normally expect – but Harry Woodgate’s words flow, with everyone needed to tell the story.

The illustrations, also by Harry Woodgate, reflect the mood of the story – shifting from dark despair when we get a peek inside Miss Brown’s house, to an explosion of joy when her garden returns to its former glory. I could have pored over the illustrations for hours and I’m sure young readers will do the same, discovering more about Holly and Miss Brown as they go. (And don’t forget to check out the end pages, which act as ‘before and after’ shots.)

As a main character, Holly is delightful, proving that it doesn’t take much to draw a community together and make a difference in someone’s life. Society needs more Hollies!

The Butterfly House is a lovely story that will be sure to engage its intended readership of children aged from 4 to 8 years of age (and beyond, in my opinion as the themes are rich and varied, allowing the story to be read on many different levels).