The Mystery of the Monarchs

By Barb Rosenstock; illustrated by Erika Meza

Informational Resources:

Author Information:

Barb Rosenstock Website:

https://barbrosenstock.com/

Illustrator Information:

Erika Meza’s Website:

https://www.erikameza.com/

Activities & Resources:

The Places You’ll Go: El Rosario Monarch Reserve

Learn about one of the most favored locations for Monarch Butterflies to winter:

El Rosario Monarch Reserve & Butterfly Sanctuary | Mexico

All About Monarch Butterflies (4:45):

https://youtu.be/Q4_90JhhfhM?si=cMax31aySYjZccmv 

Become a Monarch Butterfly and Migrate!

Join the Kratt Brothers and PBS to be a part of this important aspect of the Monarch Butterfly migration.

https://kera.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/ceb3bf4b-5331-4cd3-ba5d-87716357f45c/ceb3bf4b-5331-4cd3-ba5d-87716357f45c/

Writing Prompt:

Create a Journal entry as if students are a Monarch Butterfly. What do you see? What changes are you going through?  

https://kera.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/ceb3bf4b-5331-4cd3-ba5d-87716357f45c/ceb3bf4b-5331-4cd3-ba5d-87716357f45c/

Monarch Migration Map:

Work with groups of students to create and follow a Monarch Butterfly Migration Map and explore the areas they visit and pass through to learn why these locations are ideal for their stay along this journey.

Monarch Butterfly Migration Map | Teach Starter

More Facts Mentioned in the Book:

Visit Urquhart Butterfly Gardens, a volunteer garden created in memory of Fred and Norah Urquhart.

Frederick Urquhart – A Short Biography

National Geographic Kids explains the beauty behind this amazing insect:

Monarch Butterfly

The Amazing Monarch Butterfly Life Cycle:

The Amazing Monarch Life Cycle--narrated for elementary science lessons

Entomology

The Bug Club - For Young Entomologists:

https://www.amentsoc.org/bug-club/

Participate as a Monarch Butterfly conservationist with Monarch Watch!:

https://monarchwatch.org/

MakerSpace Activities:

Create a wonderful piece of art - a Monarch Button Butterfly! (0:59):

https://youtube.com/shorts/-4m2vKqISzo?si=pE4rgoTOnkxfiFsg

Grow Monarch Butterflies in your classroom or at home:

https://www.saveourmonarchs.org/how-to-raise-monarch-butterflies-at-home.html

Create a 3D Mosaic Monarch Butterfly Craft:

https://www.ourkidthings.com/mosaic-monarch-butterfly-craft/

Life of a Monarch Butterfly Study and Activity:

https://hudsonriverpark.org/app/uploads/2020/06/Life-of-a-Butterfly-Lesson.pdf

Discussion Questions:

What was your favorite part of "Mystery of the Monarchs"?

How would you describe the main characters in the story?

Why do you think the book is titled "Mystery of the Monarchs"?

What do you think the author wanted you to learn from reading this book?

Can you retell the story in your own words?

Which character did you relate to the most, and why?

What was the problem or mystery that the characters had to solve?

How did the characters work together to “solve” the mystery?

What role did the monarch butterflies play in the story?

Were there any surprises or twists in the plot that you didn't expect?

How did the setting (where the story takes place) affect the events in the book?

What do you think about the choices the characters made?

If you were in the story, what would you have done differently?

What did you learn about monarch butterflies from reading this book?

Can you think of any other mysteries you'd like the characters to solve in a sequel?

How did the author use descriptive language to help you imagine the scenes in the book?

Do you think the story had a happy ending? Why or why not?

Did the book teach you anything new about nature or science?

If you could ask the author one question about the book, what would it be?

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Book Talk Teasers:

Read the reader’s theater for The Mystery of the Monarchs by Barb Rosenstock.

Watch the book trailer on the Texas Bluebonnet Award website.

Read Alikes: 

Furrow, Robert, We are Starlings: Inside the Mesmerizing Magic of a Murmuration. Introducing the murmuration of starlings, this fascinating picture book provides a bird's-eye view as the group stays close together in a harmonious synchronicity of movement, showing how this extraordinary means of communication and collaboration can apply to readers' own lives. (NoveLIst Plus)

Hevron, Amy, The Longest Journey: An Arctic Tern’s Migration.  Follows the epic migration of an Arctic Tern as it spreads its wings and sets out to make the 60,000-mile journey to the South Pole and back again--the longest such migration in the animal kingdom. (NoveList Plus)

Kant, Tanya, The Migration of a Butterfly.  Uses a question and answer format to describe how monarch butterflies make the long journey from Canada and the northern United States to Mexico each year. (NoveList Plus)

Mabry, Sheri, Soar High, Dragonfly!.  Nonfiction picture book gives a scientific look at a dragonfly's life-cycle. Includes sidebars with additional facts. (NoveList Plus)

Reviews:

Booklist (May 1, 2023 (Online))

Grades 1-3. Rosenstock (The Noisy Paintbox, 2014) introduces Canadian zoologist Fred Urquhart, who, together with his wife, Norah Roden Urquhart, and thousands of volunteers, solved the mystery of where monarch butterflies go in the winter. Studying insects over the years, Fred realized that nobody could give him an answer, though many had theories. A highlight of the book is Rosenstock’s chronicle of the lengthy trial and error that’s often involved in science, as Fred is shown trying and failing, repeatedly, to mark monarchs so that others could find ones he released and tell him their location. Another great lesson is next: science is collaborative. Norah asked the public for help with tagging and volunteers responded with gusto, documenting sightings that allowed the scientists to follow the butterflies to Mexico, where more collaboration, and more years of frustration and legwork, lead to finding the monarchs. The mystery, the work, and the eventual triumph are all given engaging treatment by Rosenstock, whose informative lesson on how science functions is accompanied by Meza’s brightly colored watercolors depicting Fred and Norah and the many child and adult volunteers, always with butterflies flitting about. A lovely addition to classroom and library shelves.