About this time every year my sister gets catalogs in the mail for the most ridiculous, useless, and environmentally unsound gifts on the planet. She calls and leaves a message on my cell phone that goes something like this: “Are you the butterfly wall clock type?”
Butterfly-themed gifts abound during the holidays and if you are not careful, you might fall for some of them—mugs, mouse pads, clutch bags, magnets, hoodies, tote bags, bumper stickers, coasters, flip-flops, family reunion T-shirts, steins, and luggage tags are just a few of the options. There is even a “Blue Princess Fairy Tutu Dress-Up Skirt” with plastic butterflies attached to the skirt.
So what do you give the butterfly-loving person on your gift list that will delight them for many seasons and will not be delegated to the Good Will donation pile by New Year’s Eve? There are lots of options.
For children, The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle is a classic that will delight most children. The Butterflies Coloring Book by Jan Sovak and Butterflies and Flowers to Paint or Color by Ruth Soffer depict real butterfly species, not crazy anthropomorphic ones wearing smiling faces and tennis shoes. The Butterfly Activity Book by Patricia J. Wynne is another good option for little ones. For the older child, try Where Butterflies Grow by Joanne Ryder—a wonderful book with enchanting drawings by Lynne Cherry. Watch out for caterpillar books that mention butterflies making cocoons or other inaccuracies. For children interested in all things buggy, think about buying Dragonflies of North America: A Coloring and Learn Book by Kathy Biggs.
For young adults, this butterfly paperweight might be a good choice. Please don’t buy any teenager a butterfly T-shirt or barrette that you personally like. They will probably think it is corny.
For adults, I really like the Butterfly 9 BBQ Apron on Café Press that comes in white, khaki or yellow. Elegant blue butterfly drop earrings by Ken Kantro are nice as is the hand cast pewter butterfly ornament for the Christmas tree.
Butterfly houses, some in the shape of A-frame chalets or rustic barns, are pricey at $32.95. Hand-painted mountain scenes or flowery meadows painted on boxes just do not attract butterflies, in fact, I have never met one person who has seen butterflies use these boxes. Forget butterfly feeders. The best butterfly feeders are plants, period. Of course, avoid live butterflies, framed butterflies, and butterfly kits. (Go outside!) Ask someone who knows about butterflies to help you identify items with photos on them. I recently saw online a coffee mug titled “Monarch Butterfly Mug” that showed a Viceroy on the front.
Tiffany designed umbrellas (both butterfly and dragonfly) are unique and useful.
For the library, get Caterpillars of Eastern North America: A Guide to Identification and Natural History by David Wagner, Butterflies of the East Coast: An Observer’s Guide by Cech and Tudor, Caterpillars in the Field and Garden by Allen, Brock and Glassberg, Butterflies Through Binoculars The East and The West by Jeffrey Glassberg. I really like Florida Butterfly Caterpillars and Their Host Plants by Minno, Butler, and Hall.
Bottom line: Stay away from butterfly kitsch which is everywhere. Look for gifts that are both useful and attractive for adults, and gifts for children that teach about real butterflies. For teens, just go with money or gift cards in butterfly envelopes. They will thank you.