Did you know that today is World Meditation Day? In celebration, I would like to share Already a Butterfly by Julia Alvarez with you all today. The calming, gentle picture book follows a young butterfly name Mari Posa, as she buzzes about her busy days.
With so much to do, Mari finds she may not be paying enough attention to her days, as everything becomes a blur of activity. Her mind races about the things she needs to do, and she doesn’t seem to rest or enjoy her accomplishments at the end of the day.
One day, Mari meets a new friend who helps her recall the peaceful feelings she had inside her chrysalis. He teaches her how to go back to that calm place in her mind through controlled breathing and meditating, before he makes a transformation of his own.
I was really surprised to find myself relating to Mari Posa. I’ve always known that I have a lot of irons in the fire being a mom, a writer, a reviewer, and having a day job. But I never really thought about the way I might not be sitting with each of those activities and enjoying them in the moment. Already a Butterfly inspired me to set some time aside for yoga and meditation every week, to make sure I’m being a bit more mindful. I always love when a children’s book teaches me a lesson!
The illustrations by Raúl Colón are beautiful. They reminded me of classic illustrations from the books I read as a child, and they bring such a calming energy to Mari Posa’s story.
You can pick up your own copy of Already a Butterfly wherever books are sold, including Bookshop and Amazon. I will also be partnering with Blue Slip Media to giveaway a copy on Instagram to celebrate World Meditation Day, so be sure to enter over there. (Please note: Some links provided are affiliate links. Affiliate links allow me to receive a small commission for recommendations at no cost to you. This commission is used to maintain this site and to continue bringing content to you. I always appreciate your support!)
Julia Alvarez is a Dominican-American poet, novelist, essayist, and the recipient of the F. Scott Fitzgerald Award and National Medal of Arts. To learn more about her and her work, please visit her website at juliaalvarez.com.
Raúl Colón is an award-winning illustrator based in New York. Please visit his Instagram to learn more about him and his work, including one of my personal favorites Counting The Stars by Lesa Cline-Ransome.
Thank you to Blue Slip Media for providing me with a review copy of this beautiful book. I hope you all enjoy your World Meditation Day celebrations and find a bit of peace in your busy days.
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