Red Butterfly Format: Trade Paper

An enchanting tale of hidden beauty and fierce courage, retold in the style of T’ang Dynasty poetry and illustrated with charm and grace

A young Chinese princess is sent from her father’s kingdom to marry the king of a far-off land. She must leave behind her home of splendors: sour plums and pink peach petals and — most precious and secret of all — the small silkworm. She begs her father to let her stay, but he insists that she go and fulfill her destiny as the queen of Khotan. Beautifully told and arrestingly illustrated, here is a coming-of-age tale of a brave young princess whose clever plan will go on to live in legend — and will ensure that her cherished home is with her always.

Deborah Noyes writes fiction, narrative nonfiction, and graphic novels for all ages. Some of her titles are the picture books Red Butterfly, illustrated by Sophie Blackall, and Hana in the Time of Tulips, illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline; An Outbreak of Witchcraft, a YA graphic novel illustrated by M. Duffy; Ten Days a Madwoman; The Magician and the Spirits; and The Ghosts of Kerfol. She lives in Portland, Maine, where she spends her free time admiring dogs, collecting seaweed for cyanotypes, and learning to play traditional fiddle.

Sophie Blackall is the acclaimed illustrator of more than forty-five books for young readers and a two-time Caldecott Medalist. Born and raised in Australia, she now lives in Brooklyn.