Yo Wants to Know

by Lea and Alan Daniel

Yo and Grandpa stand in a field with a book on butterflies.

“Let's look for monarch butterflies,” says Grandpa.

“OK,” says Yo. “What color are they?”

“Black and orange,” says Grandpa.

Grandpa is pointing to the sky with Yo looking up to him

“It may be too late in the season for them. Last night was chilly. Hey, Yo, what's so funny?”

“Nothing,” says Yo.

“Monarchs can't stand cold,” says Grandpa. “When it cools off around here, they go to a warm place, like Mexico.”

“That's far away, right?” asks Yo.

Grandpa stands with butterflies on his hat, while Yo reads a book
there is a closeup of a butterfly perched on a flower

“Yes, but they're strong fliers,” says Grandpa. “They rest in trees at night.

“They stop to sip nectar from flowers and water from streams and puddles.

“After weeks of flying, they reach their winter home.”

“We'll watch for monarchs next summer,” says Grandpa. “There will be lots of them around here then.”

“I think you should check out your hat, ” says Yo.

“Ha!” says Grandpa. “Now I know what was so funny.”

Grandpa takes off his hat and looks at the butterflies

Vocabulary

nectar:
A sweet liquid found in many flowers.

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Activity

  1. What other animals can you think of that go somewhere else during the winter?
    Name two animals that travel to new homes in the winter.
    [anno: Answers will vary but could include geese, ducks, and whales.]
  2. How does your life change in the winter?
    Do you wear different clothing?
    Do you play in different places?
    Write a few sentences telling how your life changes in the winter.
    [anno: Answers will vary.]