The Adventures of Molly the Monarch Butterfly and Friends series begins with Molly: A Butterfly's Story. Molly: A Butterfly's Story is the first in a series of 3 books describing butterfly biology through playful yet profound illustrations by artist and childrens book illustrator, George Speedy Ar... more

The Adventures of Molly the Monarch Butterfly and Friends series begins with Molly: A Butterfly's Story. Molly: A Butterfly's Story is the first in a series of 3 books describing butterfly biology through playful yet profound illustrations by artist and childrens book illustrator, George Speedy Arnold III . Molly, a friendly loveable Monarch butterfly begins her story by explaining how she began her life as an egg. She describes each stage of metamorphosis from a butterflys perspective. The tone throughout the book fosters a kind regard toward nature and a celebration of embracing our core attributes. The author Maureen Akey is one of eight children who grew up on a farm in Northern New York State, surrounded by her favorite pets, including a guinea pig and several horses. She spent her summers in Montreal, Canada chasing butterflies and horseback riding in the mountains. She holds 3 degrees in the Agricultural and Life Sciences and currently teaches Biology, Microbiology, and Environmental Science at a local college. Her past times include training horses, landscaping, working as a field biologist most days and rearing butterflies at her farm “Butterfly Showplace". Maureen conducts adult seminars locally on butterfly garden design, butterfly courtship rituals and also presents children’s puppet shows about butterfly biology. She is currently completing 2 other books in the Molly the Monarch and Friends© book series. Maureen resides in Melrose, FL and can be contacted at [email protected]. The illustrator George (Speedy) Arnold III is a life-long resident of Keeseville, NY. He has been drawing and painting most of his life, however, in the last 20 years, it is rare to see him without a sketchbook in hand. Almost all of his sketches are done in his spare time between his 3 “real” jobs: owner and operator of Arnold’s Grocery, AuSable Valley school bus driver, and Town of AuSable assessor. Speedy is also the guitar player with the bluegrass band “Three Doug Knight”, and in addition, performs solo at local farmers markets, libraries and schools. Speedy has also illustrated several books including the children’s book authored by North-Country musician Jim Goff titled “The Little Brook in the Field.” Speedy also attended and graduated from grade school with the author. Speedy can be reached at [email protected]. Phone: 518-834-4692. Note to educators and parents: The adventures of Molly, the Monarch and Friends© was developed and later written to be adapted in educational-and environmental-theme puppet shows. Children immediately related to these loveable characters, embracing the learning process effortlessly through the interactive discourse. In subsequent episodes, Molly, the Monarch teaches Jean-Claude, the French Canadian migrating monarch the importance of counting in Spanish. Jean Claude reciprocates and teaches Molly how to enumerate the miles of migration in French. The Adventures of Molly the Monarch and Friends series© is replete with socialization concepts, such as cooperation and problem-solving