The Mystery of the Monarchs
How Kids, Teachers, and Butterfly Fans Helped Fred and Norah Urquhart Track the Great Monarch Migration
![Junior Library Guild Selection sticker](https://barbrosenstock.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/jlg-selection.png)
![Mystery of the Monarchs](https://barbrosenstock.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/mystery-of-the-monarchs_600.png)
By Barb Rosenstock
Illustrated by Erika Meza
Knopf Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 978-1-984-82956-6
A gorgeous picture book based on the true story of a scientist who solved the mysteries of monarch butterfly migration.
A gorgeous picture book based on the true story of a scientist who solves the mysteries of monarch butterfly migration—with the help of schoolchildren! A perfect story for nature lovers of all ages from the Caldecott Honor winning author of The Noisy Paint Box.
Young Fred Urquhart was fascinated by insects, especially his favorite, the monarch butterfly. He wondered where monarchs spent the winter. No one knew. After he became an entomologist (bug scientist),Fred and his wife, Norah,tagged hundreds of butterflies,hoping to solve the mystery of the monarchs. But they soon discovered that they needed help. They started a “butterfly family,” a community of children, teachers, and nature enthusiasts from three countries—Canada, the United States,and Mexico—to answer the question: Where do the monarchs go?
Detailed materials in the back of the book include maps of monarch migration, the life cycle of the butterfly, and the cultural relevance of monarch butterflies in Mexico, as well as information on environmental efforts towards monarch conservation.
Slideshow: Visiting monarch sites in Mexico City
This winter, a friend and I spent four days and three nights in the farming town of Macheros (population 400) about two and half hours outside of Mexico City. We stayed at an ecotourism bed and breakfast, J M B & B run by the Moreno family. On horseback, in the mountains between the states of Mexico and Michoacán, we saw clusters of overwintering monarchs hanging from the trees. The following day, we were treated to an afternoon river of monarchs flying down the mountain to water before they return to the warmth of their protected clusters. We left the monarchs on the mountain, but will see their grandchildren soon as the generations make their way north this summer.
![Entrance to El Rosario commercial sanctuary Entrance to El Rosario commercial sanctuary](http://barbrosenstock.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/02-Entrance-to-El-Rosario-commercial-sanctuary-1.jpeg)
![Entrance to El Rosario commercial sanctuary Entrance to El Rosario commercial sanctuary](http://barbrosenstock.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/02-Entrance-to-El-Rosario-commercial-sanctuary-1.jpeg)
![El Rosario's forest El Rosario's forest](http://barbrosenstock.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/03-El-Rosarios-forest.jpeg)
![El Rosario's forest El Rosario's forest](http://barbrosenstock.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/03-El-Rosarios-forest.jpeg)
![Clusters of Monarchs in El Rosario Clusters of Monarchs in El Rosario](http://barbrosenstock.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/04-Clusters-of-Monarchs-in-El-Rosario.jpeg)
![Clusters of Monarchs in El Rosario Clusters of Monarchs in El Rosario](http://barbrosenstock.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/04-Clusters-of-Monarchs-in-El-Rosario.jpeg)
![Monarch resting on a tree stump Monarch resting on a tree stump](http://barbrosenstock.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/05-Monarch-resting-on-a-tree-stump.jpeg)
![Monarch resting on a tree stump Monarch resting on a tree stump](http://barbrosenstock.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/05-Monarch-resting-on-a-tree-stump.jpeg)
![El Rosario treetops El Rosario treetops](http://barbrosenstock.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/06-El-Rosario-treetops.jpeg)
![El Rosario treetops El Rosario treetops](http://barbrosenstock.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/06-El-Rosario-treetops.jpeg)
![Monarchs on the forest floor Monarchs on the forest floor](http://barbrosenstock.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/08-Monarchs-on-the-forest-floor.jpeg)
![Monarchs on the forest floor Monarchs on the forest floor](http://barbrosenstock.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/08-Monarchs-on-the-forest-floor.jpeg)
![Day 1 Macheros Sunset Day 1 Macheros Sunset](http://barbrosenstock.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/09-Day-1-Macheros-Sunset.jpeg)
![Day 1 Macheros Sunset Day 1 Macheros Sunset](http://barbrosenstock.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/09-Day-1-Macheros-Sunset.jpeg)
![Day 2 Good Morning to Macheros Day 2 Good Morning to Macheros](http://barbrosenstock.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/10-Day-2-Good-Morning-to-Macheros.jpeg)
![Day 2 Good Morning to Macheros Day 2 Good Morning to Macheros](http://barbrosenstock.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/10-Day-2-Good-Morning-to-Macheros.jpeg)
![Starting our trip from the Village Starting our trip from the Village](http://barbrosenstock.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/11-Starting-our-trip-from-the-Village.jpeg)
![Starting our trip from the Village Starting our trip from the Village](http://barbrosenstock.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/11-Starting-our-trip-from-the-Village.jpeg)
![Mountain Scenery Mountain Scenery](http://barbrosenstock.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/13-On-the-way-up-Cerro-Pelon.jpeg)
![Mountain Scenery Mountain Scenery](http://barbrosenstock.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/13-On-the-way-up-Cerro-Pelon.jpeg)
![Monarch Clusters in Cerro Pelón Monarch Clusters in Cerro Pelón](http://barbrosenstock.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/15-Monarch-Clusters-in-Cerro-Pelon.jpeg)
![Monarch Clusters in Cerro Pelón Monarch Clusters in Cerro Pelón](http://barbrosenstock.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/15-Monarch-Clusters-in-Cerro-Pelon.jpeg)
![Cerro Pelón Monarchs in the sun Cerro Pelón Monarchs in the sun](http://barbrosenstock.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/17-Cerro-Pelon-Monarchs-in-the-sun.jpeg)
![Cerro Pelón Monarchs in the sun Cerro Pelón Monarchs in the sun](http://barbrosenstock.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/17-Cerro-Pelon-Monarchs-in-the-sun.jpeg)
![Closer to the Monarch Clusters Closer to the Monarch Clusters](http://barbrosenstock.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/18-Closer-to-the-Monarch-Clusters.jpeg)
![Closer to the Monarch Clusters Closer to the Monarch Clusters](http://barbrosenstock.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/18-Closer-to-the-Monarch-Clusters.jpeg)
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![Day's end Day's end](http://barbrosenstock.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/25-Days-end.jpeg)
![Play](http://barbrosenstock.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/07-Monarch-warming-in-the-Sun.png)
![Play](http://barbrosenstock.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/14-Straight-up-the-Mountain-on-Horseback.png)
![Play](http://barbrosenstock.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/19-Monarchs-at-Cerro-Pelon-flying.png)
![Play](http://barbrosenstock.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/20-Monarchs-headed-toward-water.png)
![Play](http://barbrosenstock.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/21-The-Author-and-a-friend-among-the-monarchs.png)
![Play](http://barbrosenstock.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/23-Monarch-flight-in-Slow-Motion.png)
Book Trailer for The Mystery of the Monarchs
Resources for The Mystery of the Monarchs
Reviews
“crowd-sourced science in action…”
—Kirkus Reviews
Awards & Recognition
A Junior Library Guild Selection
Cook Prize Silver Medalist, 2023
Outstanding Science Trade Books List, 2023
Texas Bluebonnet Award, 2024-2025
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