The Butterfly House

Written and illustrated by Harry Woodgate

Reviewed by Margarite Igras

Harry Woodgate (they/them) is an award-winning LGBTQ+ author and illustrator, whose debut picture book Grandad’s Camper followed by Grandad’s Pride, broaches the subject of diverse relationships for the younger readers. Little Milly enjoys listening to stories about the camper van adventures of her Grandad and his late husband, Gramps. In the sequel, Milly organises a Village Pride parade to cheer up her Grandad and make some new stories.

The Butterfly House, aimed at 4- to 8-year-olds, shines a light on the subject of mental health and how a small act of kindness can grow and change someone’s life. A young girl Holly is attracted to an old overgrown house at the end of her street. To some it is scary, but to Holly it is like a fairy tale. It is inhabited by a Miss Brown, who doesn’t go out much. Holly writes a kind letter to her, saying how much she likes the house, but when Miss Brown responds, she discovers a sad story about someone who was a gardener, who suffered from a deep sadness and mental illness and was no longer able to cope with the overgrown garden. Holly reaches out to her neighbourhood, to help turn the garden into a haven for butterflies and a safe place for Miss Brown and the Community.

The story is told through beautifully detailed watercolour and ink illustrations with letters, similes- butterflies like jewels dipped and dived all around us, and the garden used as a metaphor of Miss Brown’s transition from overgrown and thorny sadness to something like a fairy tale as she recuperates. As the garden comes to life, there are swirling colours on the pages, with butterflies that spill onto the end pages and especially onto the cover.

This beautiful book is a joy to read at home at school or in the library. It brings together adults and children and enables further discussion about mental illness.

Teacher’s Notes

Affirm Kids 2025

Harry Woodgate