Kiri is thrilled to get a book on origami and a package of beautiful origami papers from her aunt as a birthday gift. But every time she tries to make an origami butterfly like the one her aunt put on top of her present, the paper rips. As the weeks pass, Kiri practices over and over with notebook paper so she won’t waste the colorful and delicate origami sheets. She also paints, draws with chalk, and works with clay. When a watercolor picture inspired by a beautiful spring day is ruined after the paint runs and the paper begins to shred, Kiri’s frustration and anger lead to a moment of inspiration and a new way to use the origami papers she loves. She also finds success at last in her attempts to fold an origami butterfly. As she did in David’s Drawings (Lee & Low, 2001), Cathryn Falwell has created a realistic picture book about a child artist, this time focusing on determination, inspiration, and the surprising outcomes that can arise from disappointment. Children will enjoy looking for ways the author/artist has incorporated butterflies into the brightly colored illustrations of Japanese American Kiri and her family. (Ages 5–8)

A Japanese American girl grows creatively and, with perseverance, masters the art of making an origami butterfly. Includes instructions.

Kiri loves to make things. When she receives an origami set for her birthday, she can't wait to try making a butterfly, just like the one Auntie Lu had made. Kiri chooses a bright purple paper and carefully follows the steps, but the paper tears after just four folds. Her beautiful paper is ruined!

Disappointed but not discouraged, Kiri continues to practice making origami butterflies. Then one beautiful spring day in the park Kiri is inspired to make a picture of what she sees, and her creative and colorful solution turns out to be more rewarding than she could have imagined.

Butterflies for Kiri is a gentle testament to a child's determination and creativity, and like Kiri, children will be inspired to make their own origami butterflies. Easy-to-follow instructions are provided at the end of the story.