Our Winning Book Synopsis
In The Bison and the Butterfly, a young bison wanders through her woodland in search of a friend. Along her journey, Bison learns how her actions positively impact the other animals who live in the woodland. This 2026 Giverny Award-winning book addresses keystone species, community, and ecosystem—and the importance of friends. Colorful and detailed illustrations bring Bison’s story to life.
The story begins with a young bison chewing chestnut tree bark in an idyllic setting. As wonderful as her surroundings are, Bison is not happy. A woodpecker suggests that Bison needs a friend, and off Bison goes in search of one. Along the journey, Bison meets a dung beetle and a lizard, before she encounters a sad butterfly, Bison suggests the butterfly needs a friend! Bison shows the butterfly around the woodland. She tramples through the woods with the butterfly flying overhead until she reunites with her herd, the lizard, the dung beetle and the woodpecker. She is happy with her new friend Butterfly.
Several science concepts are included in The Bison and the Butterfly. Children learn about animals, ecosystem interactions, and how a keystone species like bison affect the environment and the organisms within it. During her journey, Bison discovers that when she strips bark from the chestnut tree, she creates deadwood that attracts the bugs that woodpecker eats for breakfast. Bison’s dust baths create bare ground for the lizard to sunbathe. Even Bison’s poop is valued by the dung beetle, who eats it and tunnels through it. The artwork portrays animals and plants accurately, from decomposing logs to correct depictions of bugs, birds, and reptiles. We learned that Kent Wildlife Trust worked with the author and artist to ensure the scientific accuracy of the story and its illustrations.
Children’s author Alice Hemming is based in the United Kingdom and has published over 50 books. She enjoyed writing and drawing as a child; and once she had her own children, she began writing picture books. She says that she enjoys visiting schools and sharing her work.
The book’s illustrator, Nancy Leschnikoff, is based outside of London. She grew up within a creative family and works as a freelance designer and illustrator. Although she works across a variety of genres, Nancy writes that children’s publishing “feels like home”
We think our youngest readers will relate to finding a friend and enjoy learning about Bison’s impact in her woodland—from eating bark to producing poop that the dung beetle loves. The colorful illustrations in The Bison and the Butterfly will keep children’s interest, and the use of words to show sounds will be appealing. For the curious reader, the book includes additional information on bison and butterfly, as well as the Kent Wildlife Trust and their introduction of bison into the Blean, Kent woodland, United Kingdom. A teacher’s guide and activity pack also are available for free download.
