Bella Brown—Grandma’s Missing Butterfly Locket

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“Bella Brown–Grandma’s Missing Butterfly Locket” is an enchanting tale that masterfully weaves together family bonds, cultural exploration, and the wonder of nature. This second installment in the Bella Brown series elevates the storytelling by taking readers on a globe-trotting adventure through the lens of a loving grandmother-granddaughter relationship.

The story’s strength lies in its rich sensory details – from the “tink-tink” of Japanese wind chimes to the scent of cherry blossoms, and from the weight of a Blue Morpho butterfly to the “soft flutter sounds” of migrating Monarchs. Each memory is crafted with vivid specificity that brings these international settings to life. The author cleverly incorporates educational elements, teaching readers about butterfly species, cultural traditions, and even amusing facts (like Monarch butterflies’ “water farts”) without ever feeling didactic.

What makes this book particularly special is how it bridges generations through shared experiences. The story’s structure, using memories as stepping stones toward the surprise ending, creates an engaging mystery that keeps young readers invested while celebrating the special relationship between grandparent and grandchild. The final revelation – that the search for the locket was a prelude to passing it down to Bella – delivers an emotional punch that reinforces themes of family tradition and legacy.

This picture book works on multiple levels – as a butterfly fact book, a cultural journey, a family story, and a tender passing-of-the-torch tale. For children ages 4-8, it offers both the immediate pleasure of a butterfly-filled adventure and deeper messages about family bonds, tradition, and the joy of shared memories.

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Chanticleer 5-Star Review

Bella Brown—Grandma’s Missing Butterfly Locket
By J.W. Zarek
ASIN: B0F1RF6V3M
ISBN: 9798992810707
Rating: 5/5 — Highly Recommended

In Bella Brown—Grandma’s Missing Butterfly Locket by J.W. Zarek, Bella and Grandma Yetta recall the various beautiful places they’ve visited to see the variety of butterflies around the world—and those same places where Yetta may have lost her locket.

Over the phone, Bella imagines botanical gardens, temples, and natural places from China and Japan to Colombia and the Ozarks. Bella thinks about the butterfly locket in each location but can’t quite remember where it could be before she and her mom head to the local butterfly garden. Bella promises to draw a butterfly for Yetta, even if she can’t help her find out what happened to her locket.

Grandma Yetta surprises Bella at the garden, and the two share a sweet moment as grandmother and granddaughter among their beloved butterflies.

Zarek’s writing balances evocative description and ease of reading for young kids.

Through an emphasis on motion and popping, colorful key words, the writing style embodies a childlike energy. Vivid sensory descriptions give a strong sense of place to each new location, working well with the illustrations to guide readers along Bella’s memorable journey.

Different colors code the dialogue of Bella and Yetta, making it easy for young readers to follow along with their over-the-phone conversation.

Illustrator Anastasia’s pastel coloring flows from page to page, matching Bella’s fantastical wandering through her memories.

The myriad locations blend in and out of Bella’s room as if the reader’s stepping into them alongside her. A familiar blue and pink color scheme gives way to unique palettes for each new scene, with plants and butterflies alike shown in their beautiful variety.

Those butterflies—illustrations of various real-world species—flock across entire page spreads to conjure the wonder of seeing them in person.

The characters’ designs are as vibrant and playful as the butterflies they visit. They’re accompanied on their travels by Pip the Domovoi, an adorable little creature tucked away in the details of the illustrations.

Across these destinations, Bella and Grandma Yetta bring up fun facts about the butterflies they see.

Kids learn the cultural connotations of visiting a white butterfly in Japan, and strange bits of biology about the migrating Monarchs. This book emphasizes the joy in sharing curiosity and appreciation of the natural world with your loved ones.

Any young readers with an interest in butterflies will adore Bella Brown—Grandma’s Missing Butterfly Locket.

Video Review from Debbie Drum

Literary Titan Gold Book Award

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The Heart of Every Adventure

How old is she? 8 years old.

What does she look like? A spirited girl who loves to create art, wears a very special family heirloom her Grandma Yetta gave her - a magical butterfly locket.

What is she like? Bella is creative, artistic, brave, and has a huge heart for helping others. She loves to draw and make beautiful pictures, especially butterflies and nature scenes. Sometimes big jobs feel overwhelming, but she never gives up. She gets excited about fun trips, loves her family, and always puts friends before winning. She's incredibly kind and will stop to help anyone who needs it, even if it means she comes in last.

What is she really good at? Drawing amazing pictures (especially butterflies and flowers), solving problems, helping others, learning about nature, astronomy, and different cultures, baking with guidance, and being a loyal friend.

What does she love most? Drawing, butterflies, art supplies, butterfly gardens, Grandma Yetta's hugs, everything purple, magical adventures, learning new things, helping friends, and bringing people together.

Her favorite color: Purple.

Her special job: She's a Key Keeper. That means she protects a key that opens a door between our world and a world of magic where the domovoi live.

Her greatest strength: Her kindness and willingness to help others for no other reason then it's the right thing to do.

Books she's in: ALL 10 Bella Brown books - she's the main character of the entire series.

Fun stuff about Bella:

Her room gets SO messy she has to jump over clothes mountains.
She draws thank-you pictures for people she loves.
When her room is clean, she can run without tripping over toys.
She has a magical butterfly locket that glows when magic is near.
She can sweep up messes faster than you can say "Lickity-split-ala-ka-boom."
She's been on amazing butterfly adventures around the world with Grandma Yetta.
She overcame her fear of bees and learned to love them.
She knows amazing facts about dragonflies and the moon.
She loves learning about different holiday traditions from around the world.
She's not the fastest runner, but she has the biggest heart.
She always stops to help others, even in the middle of a race.
She turns conflicts into friendships through understanding.
She makes the best cookies when she follows directions.
She knows that the best finish line is the one you cross together.

Bella's wisdom:

"Drawing is fun and easy, but cleaning my room is hard."
"Friends matter more than finishing first."
"Sometimes the best finish line is the one you cross together."
"Like the bees we're helping---each small act combined makes something amazing."

What makes Bella special: She always chooses kindness over winning, learning over knowing, and helping others over helping herself. She's a true friend who brings out the best in everyone around her.

The Wise Magic Keeper

Who is she? Bella's sweet grandma who always helps.

What is she like? Kind, smart, and never gets mad. She knows how to make hard things feel easy and fun. She also knows LOTS of magical secrets. She has a great sense of humor and loves wearing purple clothes.

What makes her special? She can help you do anything by breaking it into tiny pieces, and she knows about magic and folklore. She also looks great in purple.

Why kids love her: She always knows what to say to make you feel brave and happy, plus she tells the best magical stories. She even thinks being painted purple is fun.

Her special secret: She used to be a Key Keeper too when she was young.

Her style: She loves wearing purple clothes like aubergine shawls and has natural purple hair.

Books she's in: ALL 10 Bella Brown books - she appears in every single book in the series.

Fun stuff about Grandma:

She calls Bella "Bubalah" (that means sweetheart).
She gives the BEST hugs ever.
She tells the best bedtime stories.
She makes yummy treats that tasted like love.
She met Papa Pip when she was Bella's age.
She has a cozy cottage with a beautiful butterfly garden.
She creates and designs butterfly gardens around the world for the Lavender and Roses Society.
She makes the best hot cocoa.
She knows Bella's favorite treats are purple-frosted cupcakes.
She thinks being covered in purple paint actually suits her.
She wears lavender perfume and aubergine shawls.

What Grandma teaches: Big jobs are easy when you do them one step at a time, and magic often hides in plain sight.

The Loving Guide

Who is she? Bella's loving mom.

What is she like? She loves Bella very much but wants her to do her jobs before fun time.

What does she believe? When you work hard, you earn special treats and trips.

Why she's great: She notices when you do good work and celebrates with you.

Books she's in: Bella Brown's Messier Than Messy Room, Bella Brown—Grandma's Missing Butterfly Locket, Bella Brown Visits a Bee Farm. (Note: Mom does not appear in Books 4-10 of the Bella Brown series)

(Note: A different character named "Bella" appears as Billy's sister in "The Stomp-Clomp-Clump Monster Above the Bed," and their mother is heard but not seen in that book. Readers may decide for themselves whether these are the same characters or different people who happen to share the same names.)

Fun stuff about Mom:

She takes pictures of special moments.
She says "Wow!" when you do something amazing.
She keeps her promises about fun trips.

What Mom says: "You really earned your trip to the butterfly garden."

Bella's Best Magical Friend (Look for Pip hiding in EVERY Bella Brown book)

Who is he? Bella's magical best friend and house helper.

What is he? A special house spirit who takes care of families (that's what a domovoi does).

What does he look like? He has brilliant blue hair, orange skin, and he's often seen about as tall as Bella's knee, but can also appear taller and smaller too.

What's he like? Friendly, loyal, and always watching out for Bella. He's the smallest in his domovoi family, but he has a big heart. He gets nervous and giggly sometimes. He LOVES making surprises for his friends, even when it causes trouble.

His special job: Keeping Bella's house and family safe and happy.

His magic power: Shape shifting. He can change into different things, but sometimes he struggles to keep a shape or gets stuck. Like the time he tried to turn into an eagle, and turned into a dancing chicken for three days instead. And his mom appreciated all the eggs.

What makes him special? Even though he's the littlest domovoi and his magic is still wobbly, he might become the BEST shape shifter ever.

What's in his treasure bag: Candies that sparkle like gems, trinkets that shine brighter than fireflies, buttons, coins, and the sparkliest stardust of all.

Where does he live? Pip lives behind the stove like most domovoi, but he also travels back and forth to Dom, the magical domovoi world.

Books he's in: ALL 12 of J.W. Zarek's picture books - he appears in every single book either as a main character or hidden in background illustrations.

Bella Brown Series appearances:

Books 1-3: Hidden in background illustrations
Books 4-8: Main character
Books 9-10: Hidden in background illustrations

Standalone book appearances:

Pip's Epic Treasure Hunt (main protagonist)
The Stomp-Clomp-Clump Monster Above the Bed (hidden in background illustrations)

Fun stuff about Pip:

He's the runt (smallest one) of his domovoi clan.
His shape shifting gets mixed up sometimes, but he keeps trying.
He makes tiny sneezes that echo from the fireplace.
Papa Pip taught him to always keep the house neat and never leave a mess.
His blue hair gets sad and turns periwinkle when he's worried.
He sometimes "borrows" things from Papa Pip's magic shed without asking first.
He knows Bella's favorite color is purple and her favorite treats are purple-frosted cupcakes.
He can tip-toe so quietly you can barely hear him.
He appears in ALL of J. W. Zarek's picture books.
He's always nearby, even when Bella doesn't see him.
He's magic, but he's also Bella's friend.
Kids who spot him have super-amazing eyes.
In domovoi folklore, house spirits are heard more than seen - that's why Pip loves to play hide and seek.
His hugs feel warm as sunbeams.

Pip says: "The best gifts come from knowing what lights up someone's heart."

Your challenge: Look for Pip hiding in every Bella Brown book.

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Bella Brown—Grandma’s Missing Butterfly Locket

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