A writer inspired by nature and human nature

Posts tagged ‘Monarch butterflies’

HOLIDAY SALE! Two eBooks—ONLY 99¢ Each Limited Time—#kidlit & #HistoricalFiction by Bette A. Stevens


It’s a Holiday Celebration

am-dbs-99-cent-limited-time

ABOUT THE BOOKS

Only 99¢ each through December 26

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AMAZING MATILDA

by Bette A. Stevens

This “Gem of a Tale” featuring a Monarch butterfly and her meadow land friends teaches kids lessons in friendship, patience and persistence as AMAZING MATILDA transforms from egg to caterpillar to butterfly. (Children’s Literature/Ages 5-11).

BUY THE BOOK at YOUR AMAZON http://bit.ly/19Qr3Y0

Only 99¢ through December 26

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DOG BONE SOUP

by Bette A. Stevens

“A compelling family drama set in 1950s and 60s rural New England.” DOG BONE SOUP (Historical Fiction/Ages 11-Adult) is not only the title of Bette A. Stevens’s debut novel; it ranks high among the paltry meals that the book’s protagonist, Shawn Daniels, wants to forget. Plodding through mounting snow and battling howling winds, Shawn is ready to leave it all behind—living in poverty, Dad’s drinking, life in foster care, the divorce, the bullies…. Travel with Shawn Daniels through the guts and the glories of life. You’ll find them all in DOG BONE SOUP, a baby boomer’s coming-of-age saga.

BUY THE BOOK at YOUR AMAZON http://bit.ly/1HGpCsZ

Only 99¢ through December 26

Happy Holidays & Happy Reading!
~ Bette A. Stevens, Maine author

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#IndieBooksBeSeen, AMAZING MATILDA by Bette A. Stevens, Books, Children's Literature, Children's Picture Book, DOG BONE SOUP by Bette A. Stevens, Fiction, History, Maine Author, My Books, Parenting

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Milkweed – It’s Not Just for Monarchs


GOT MILKWEED? Monarch butterflies and other amazing pollinators need it and we need them! ~ Bette A. Stevens, Maine author/illustrator http://www.4writersandreaders.com

The Natural Web

One of the most well knownassociations between an animal and plant species is the relationship between Monarch butterflies and Milkweed. Monarch butterflies may certainly be seen nectaringat various species of milkweeds…

Monarch nectaring on Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) Monarch nectaringon Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

Monarch nectaring on Butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa) Monarch nectaringon Butterflyweed(Asclepias tuberosa)

Monarch nectaring on Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) Monarch nectaringon Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

but this isn’t unique – they also drink at a wide variety of other flower species.

Monarch nectaring on New York Ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis) Monarch nectaringon New York Ironweed(Vernonianoveboracensis)

It’s the dependency that Monarchs have on Milkweedsas the only food source for their caterpillars that makes this relationship so noteworthy. Monarchs, like many species of insects, have evolved to specialize in their larval (in this case caterpillar) food source in order togain protection from predators through the chemicals they ingest from the plants they eat. Milkweedscontain cardiac glycosides, which are toxic to many species of birds and mammals. Plants have evolved these chemicals to protect themselves from being eaten, a strategy…

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Written

on 07/02/2016

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British butterflies, good and bad news


Dear Kitty. Some blog

This video says about itself:

Metamorphosis: The Beauty & Design of Butterflies

Throughout history, butterflies have fascinated artists and philosophers, scientists and schoolchildren with their profound mystery and beauty. In Metamorphosis you will explore their remarkable world as few ever have before.

By Peter Frost in Britain:

Threatened butterflies given a fighting chance

Friday 26th February 2016

Agricultural intensification, the loss of wildflower-rich grassland and changing woodland management have threatened these colourful insects — but help is at hand, writes PETER FROST

Lepidopterists, butterfly spotters, have been rubbing their eyes and checking their calendars in what is proving to be a remarkably early spring this year. In my native Northamptonshire, a Small Tortoiseshell was out and about on New Year’s Day.

Brimstones, Speckled Wood, Painted Ladies, Peacock and Comma had all been recorded on the wing by the end of January.

I love butterflies, the first…

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Written

on 02/27/2016

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Celebrate Autumn with a Monarch Butterfly Adventure! AMAZING MATILDA by Bette A. Stevens Only 99¢ October 21-25


AM Celebrate Autumn DROP SHADOW 2015 bas

To celebrate the season’s great Monarch Butterfly Migration, AMAZING MATILDA by Maine author/illustrator Bette A. Stevens is on sale for only 99¢ from October 21—25. Find out more about our amazing monarch pollinators and download your copy of Bette’s award-winning picture book today!

Monarch butterflies are a near-threatened species. The Center for Biological Diversity and the Center for Food Safety filed a legal petition requesting Endangered Species Act protection for the monarch and its habitat.

Eighth-generation (2015) monarch butterflies in the US and Canada are migrating south right now—destination: Mexico and California’s coast where they will over-winter before mating to create the first generation of monarchs for the northern migration that begins during the spring of 2016.

 Celebrate the Great Migration with AMAZING MATILDA

Kindle version only 99¢
October 21—25, 2015
at Your Amazon

About the book

AMAZING MATILDA by Bette A. Stevens (Ages 4-11 + grownups love it too) Friendship, patience and persistence are among the lessons learned in this gem of a tale featuring an amazing monarch butterfly. This award-winning picture book adventure follows the monarch’s life cycle as Matilda embarks on a quest to make her dream of flying come true. Matilda emerges from her egg on a milkweed leaf—she stretches and yawns and knows she wants to fly. Sparrow tells her to follow her dreams. Toad and Rabbit laugh at a creature without wings who wants to fly. You’ll be as amazed as Toad and Rabbit are as you follow Matilda from egg to imago. Science, art and wise lessons for children—all wrapped up in a tale the kids will want to read/hear again and again!

Latest 5✰ Book Review

AM cover with Monarchby T. Sanders (October 18, 2015)

As an early educator for nearly fifteen years, I am always seeking new books to share with my children. I stumbled upon this book and because I adore butterflies, I just had to give it a try. What I discovered is that this is not just another children’s book with pretty pictures and an engaging story line. It has a subtle, yet powerful underlining theme of perseverance, patience, and believing in oneself. The language isn’t too sophisticated for the targeted age group, yet it’s written in a way which would also cause parents to not be annoyed in having to read it ‘just one more time’ at the pleas of their little ones.

I own the Kindle and paperback version of this book now and I display it proudly in my classroom with my other favorites such as ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’ and Dr. Seuss classics. With all the ridiculous contemporary children’s books being released, which have no positive message or valuable information in them, it’s refreshing to find a gem like this one to add to my library.

Download your copy of “AMAZING MATILDA”

ONLY 99¢  OCTOBER 21—25
(OR: Purchase paperback and download the eBook for FREE
any time) at YOUR AMAZON

About the author

BAS Author logo stamp 2015Inspired by nature and human nature, author Bette A. Stevens is a retired elementary and middle school teacher, a wife, mother of two and grandmother of five. Stevens lives in Central Maine with her husband on their 37-acre farmstead where she enjoys reading, writing, gardening, walking and reveling in the beauty of nature. She advocates for children and families, for childhood literacy and for the conservation of monarch butterflies—an endangered species (and milkweed, the only plant that monarch caterpillars will eat).

Stevens is the author of AMAZING MATILDA, an award-winning picture book; The Tangram Zoo and Word Puzzles Too!, a home/school resource incorporating hands-on math and writing; and PURE TRASH, the short story prequel to her début novel, DOG BONE SOUP, a Boomer’s coming of age novel published in January 2015.

Please share this post… Monarch butterflies are a near-threatened species. The Center for Biological Diversity and the Center for Food Safety filed a legal petition requesting Endangered Species Act protection for the monarch and its habitat.

FIND OUT MORE: Monarch butterflies could get endangered species status

  • Download Bette’s FREE pdf for amazing links to:
    ★Monarch Facts
    ★Coloring Pages
    ★Crafts
    ★Gardening
    ★Video: How to Make an Origami Butterfly
    ★Butterfly Teacher Guide and more…
    ★Find out how you can help protect our Amazing Monarchs
    https://4writersandreaders.com/fun-learning-with-monarchs-2/

  • Bette’s Books

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Written

on 10/21/2015

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The Incredible Journey of the Monarch Butterfly!


580890_292694764163370_1843993266_n     Click link to WATCH this incredible NOVA/PBS Video…

     http://video.pbs.org/video/1063682334/

    You’ll be amazed!

During the summer of 2012 (also the summer my picture book AMAZING MATILDA, A Monarch’s Tale was published), we spotted hundreds of monarch butterflies here at “The Farmstead” in Central Maine. Subsequent years our sightings have dwindled to a dozen or so each season, although we still have lots of milkweed that blooms throughout our gardens and along the edges of the fields. I continue to advocate for these crucial pollinators, whose only source of food for the caterpillars is milkweed. I continue to warn readers about the harmful effects on all of our pollinators of GMOs such as Monsanto’s Roundup. At the tabs at top of my blog you’ll find a FREE poster “Help Protect Monarch Butterflies,” as well as the FREE educational pdf “Fun and Learning with Monarchs.” I invite you to check them out and share the news. ~ Bette A. Stevens Maine author/illustrator

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You can take a “Look inside” AMAZING MATILDA and other books by Bette A. Stevens at http://viewauthor.at/BetteAStevens

Related articles

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on 10/13/2015

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Celebrate EARTH DAY with a FREE Butterfly Adventure eBook by Bette A. Stevens


Celebrate EARTH DAY with a FREE (April 21 & 22) Butterfly Adventure eBook by Bette A. Stevens
AM Look Inside Cover

EARTH DAY April 22

AMAZING MATILDA is an award-winning picture book adventure that follows a monarch butterfly through her life cycle and teaches kids life lessons along the way!

“A lovely children’s book, with beautiful hand-drawn illustrations and a profound message.” ~ Nicholas C. Rossis, author

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ★
`*★..•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•. ★ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Follow The Magic! DOWNLOAD YOUR Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ FREE COPY HERE!

  • Please share... Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Monarch butterflies are a threatened species. The Center for Biological Diversity and the Center for Food Safety filed a legal petition requesting Endangered Species Act protection for the Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ monarch and its habitat.

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on 04/21/2015

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MEXICO CITY: Writers ask for monarch butterflies’ protection | News | Modesto Bee


MEXICO CITY: Writers ask for monarch butterflies’ protection | News | Modesto Bee.

Extreme weather trends, loss of habitat and agricultural policies cited as contributors to decline of monarch butterflies.

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Written

on 02/15/2014

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Share the Gift of Reading!


Find out more at February 12, 2014

AFacebook-Cover-Image-Amazing Matildauthor Interview  http://lindaraeblairauthor.wordpress.com/author-interviews-2/authorillustrator-interview-bette-a-stevens-childrens-literature/

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on 02/12/2014

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Priceless!


Picture and note from a reader—priceless!

Thank you, Vida! ~ Author/Illustrator Bette A. Stevens

Thank you, Vida and Bianca! ~ Author/Illustrator Bette A. Stevens

“Hi Bette,

I thought you’d like to see this picture… My younger granddaughter Bianca and I enjoyed Amazing Matilda very much. Even though she was tired, after whole day at her daycare she still wanted to hear the whole story. Then, next day, she brought the book to me and wanted to hear it again. Thank you for such an AMAZING book.” ~ Vida Sreta Zuljevic

Written

on 02/06/2014

NATIONAL MONTH OF THE PUZZLE… Get Puzzling with Matilda!


January is National Puzzle Month.

Have fun, share with friends and download your own photos too…
Click to Mix and Solve

Click on the puzzle to enjoy some jigsaw puzzling fun to celebrate National Puzzle Month with this beautiful monarch butterfly…
Then, download your own photos and create personal puzzles to solve and share with family and friends.

Here’s the link to a puzzle I designed using my cover photo from the children’s picture book AMAZING MATILDA…
AMAZING MATILDA Co Jigsaw Puzzle

Happy Puzzling!
Bette A. Stevens, author/illustrator of AMAZING MATILDA: A Monarch’s Tale and The Tangram Zoo and Word Puzzles Too!

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Children's Activities, Holiday Greeting, Monarch butterflies, My Books

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