In the visual treat and researcher’s delight Monarch and Mourning Cloak: A Butterfly Journal, the duo [author Melissa Stewart and illustrator Sarah S. Brannen] shares with readers the lifecycles, habitats, food sources and activities of two species of butterflies as they flutter through the seasons and bring enchantment into the world. Budding naturalists will revel in the wealth of information presented in a format resembling a diary made of collage featuring engaging poems and interesting observations; detailed, colorful drawings alongside rough pencil sketches; and illustrations that look like taped-on bits of paper and pressed flowers. . . . Monarch and Mourning Cloak is perfect for home, library and classroom, and sure to inspire conservationists, artists and writers of all ages. The picture book even encourages readers to record their own real-life observations. There’s “no right or wrong way to keep a journal,” Stewart says. Adds Brannen, we need only “go outside and look.”

– BookPage, April 2026 issue

This diary warmly welcomes readers to bask in butterfly lore. Most of the handsome spreads resemble real journal pages populated by sketches, taped-in ephemera, handwritten notes, and pinned pieces of text, creating a casual atmosphere perfect for imparting information. Two separate species are under observation—monarchs and mourning cloaks—and readers will be intrigued immediately by their distinct differences, along with certain similarities. . . . The lyrical text is as lovely as it is educational, and final pages of notes expand a bit more fully on many of the processes mentioned. Appealing illustrations act as macro and micro lenses on the animals, zooming in on tiny eggs and then widening for a glimpse of larger habitats. Readers are sure to walk away with an interest in butterflies—and a desire to journal their newfound knowledge.

– Booklist, February 2026 Issue

Gentle poems and richly detailed artwork reveal each species’ distinct habitats, diets and survival strategies all safely cocooned in gorgeous landscape illustrations. . . . Readers of all ages will love browsing the book and admiring the ­illustrations, but older children will ­especially value its literacy craft and wealth of information. . . . a lyrical nature journal that will be enjoyed by budding entomologists and artists alike. The end notes offer a treasure trove of information on butterfly life cycles, sketching tips, and observations practices, making it a strong choice for classroom nature studies as well as independent exploration. Is this a poetry book packed full of information, or a nonfiction study with a sprinkling of poetic joy? . . .  when found by the right readers, it will be pored over and cherished.

– School Library Journal, 1/1/26

*The author focuses on the familiar orange monarch and the less-celebrated brown mourning cloak, comparing their adaptations through accessible verse. . . . Brannen’s illustrations, rendered in watercolor, pen, and pencil, evoke authentic field sketches, complete with color-swatch palettes, date and time stamps, and observational notes presented in a naturalist’s handwriting. . . . The stunning “A Winter’s Rest: Monarch” spread demonstrates Brannen’s meticulous attention to detail—hundreds of individual monarchs clustering on fir branches in their Mexican hibernation site create a mesmerizing tapestry of orange and black against evergreen and sky blue. . . . Enthusiastic young naturalists will devour every detail. A pretty, thoughtful celebration.

– Kirkus Starred Review, December 15, 2025