Reviews
"Informative, thought-provoking...Williams is a consummate storyteller, and her narrative seamlessly integrates scientific facts with vivid portraits of characters as colorful as the butterflies that intrigue and inspire them." -BookPage, *starred review, "This entertaining look at 'the world's favorite insect' tells about butterflies' captivating beauty, and the ways these bugs have fascinated people throughout history...[Williams'] enthusiasm is convincing and contagious." -- Booklist, starred review, "Enchanting...Williams explores how such tiny insects have enraptured both scientists and novices and exposed a seemingly endless human desire for beauty." -- Chicago Review of Books, "William's tale skips and hovers as lightly as the insects that fascinate her, revealing how very little we knew about them until a young German woman in the 17th century did what no one else had done--watch them. It's what we all should learn to do, if we are to save and protect these fragile beings who as pollinators help feed us and who give us the simple joy of delight as they flutter by like colored petals on a breeze. A must read for all." -- Virginia Morrell , New York Times bestselling author of Animal Wise, "Fascinating...Groundbreaking...Coupled with years of research and knowledge gained from experts in the field, this accessible "butterfly biography" explores the ancient partnership between these special creatures and humans, and why they continue to fascinate us today. Touching, eye-opening, and incredibly profound, The Language of Butterflies reveals the critical role they play in our world." -- The Birdbooker Report, "Enchanting ... The Language of Butterflies introduces us to an array of fascinating people who help tease out delightful insights into lepidopteran biology and evolution. This is a wonderful read." - Dr. David Suzuki , author of The Sacred Balance and founder of David Suzuki Foundation, "This fascinating book will be of interest to anyone who has ever admired a butterfly, and to everyone who cares about preserving these stunning creatures." -- Library Journal, "[A] deeply personal and lyrical book that also provides meaningful scientific insight . . . Nature-loving readers will surely share the joy Williams takes in her subject in this admiring tribute to the butterfly." -- Publishers Weekly, " The Language of Butterflies enchanted me from the from the very first page. Woven through with curious wonderings about butterflies and Williams' journey of understanding, this is the best book on natural history I have read in years." -- Pat Shipman , author of The Invaders, "Enchanting ... The Language of Butterflies introduces us to an array of fascinating people who help tease out delightful insights into lepidopteran biology and evolution. This is a wonderful read." -- Dr. David Suzuki , author of The Sacred Balance and founder of the David Suzuki Foundation, "The butterfly's life cycle has always symbolized transformation. In this awe-inspiring book, Williams shows us how these animals can also transform whole ecosystems, scientific disciplines and human hearts." --Abigail Tucker , New York Times bestselling author of The Lion in the Living Room, "This is science writing as its best; Williams is a first-rate journalist who spends time in the lab and in the field (including visits to Nature Conservancy projects)...An entertaining narrative filled with quirky characters, science history and, of course, plenty of butterflies." -- Cool Green Science, "Look closely at a butterfly wing and the colors glow with tiny, luminous scales. Wendy Williams' book is the same - a focused examination filled with unexpected marvels. Written with wit and wonder , The Language of Butterflies is a worthy celebration of one of nature's most dazzling subjects." -- Dr. Thor Hanson , author of Buzz: The Nature and Necessity of Bees, " The Language of Butterflies introduces us to an array of fascinating people who help tease out delightful insights into lepidopteran biology and evolution. This is a wonderful read." -- Dr. David Suzuki , author of The Sacred Balance and founder of the David Suzuki Foundation, "The butterfly's life cycle has always symbolized transformation. In this awe-inspiring book, Williams shows us how these animals can also transform whole ecosystems, scientific disciplines and human hearts." -Abigail Tucker, New York Times bestselling author of The Lion in the Living Room, "Combining humor and poetry, Wendy Williams explores both butterflies and the people who love them...Humorist and poet though she may be, you don't need to read Williams' author bio to know she's really a journalist, because she has a clear, logical style and a reporter's instinct for telling stories through the people. One of the pleasures of the book is how gracefully Williams shifts between mini-profiles of pioneering butterfly fans and experts, the majority of whom are female or children or both...A charming, even suspenseful tale." -- Minneapolis Star Tribune, "In this fascinating book, Wendy Williams not only lovingly relates the variety and natural history of butterflies around the world, but also shares with readers the weird and wonderful stories of the people who have chased, studied, and explained butterflies over the centuries." -- Christian Science Monitor, "Butterflies are even more fascinating than they are beautiful. Wendy Williams' reporting on these otherworldly insects stuns on every page. Read this book and you'll metamorphose into an even greater fan of these amazing animals. I loved this book!" -- Sy Montgomery , author of The Soul of an Octopus, "A merry jaunt through the past, present, and future of butterfly pop science...To keep the science and history accessible rather than overwhelming, Williams wisely selects key characters, transformational moments, and illustrative species...Williams paces a geological event like an action movie, and her animated storytelling skills, coupled with her orientation toward universal themes like the nature of beauty, will appeal to a broad audience....Expect this book to awaken the dormant butterfly enthusiast within." -- Kirkus Reviews, "Wendy Williams' new book, The Language of Butterflies , enchanted me from the from the very first page, in which she not only describes the impact of being overwhelmed by Turner's extraordinary use of color in a painting but somehow connects the color of a master painter with the essence of those creatures of color, butterflies. No wonder she is a widely acclaimed and lauded writer of science! This book is sprinkled with her curious wonderings about butterflies and her pursuit of understanding. Without a doubt, this is the best book on natural history I have read in years." -- Pat Shipman , author of The Invaders, "Enthralling and revelatory. Williams is a masterful storyteller. The tales she weaves here not only illuminate the intricate beauty and astonishing intelligence of butterflies, but the consuming passions of the scientists and collectors who have fallen under their spell. I loved this book. It changed the way I see these mesmerizing insects--and the natural world." -- Jennifer Ackerman , New York Times bestselling author of The Genius of Birds and The Bird Way: A New Look at How Birds Talk, Work, Play, Parent, and Think
