Summer Birds: The Butterflies of Maria Merian

In Summer Birds: The Butterflies of Maria Merian, a curious girl growing up in the Middle Ages defies the belief that insects are evil by quietly watching caterpillars spin cocoons and emerge as butterflies and moths. Through patient observation she uncovers the true life cycle of these insects, disproving an ancient Greek idea that insects arise spontaneously from mud. Designed for early readers, the picture book mixes historical fact with story and ends with a short note about Merian's later work as a naturalist.