The rhyming, rhythmic text reads aloud pretty well, with a nice shift in tone from the opening pages, to the children's conversation, to the ending, in which even the moth realizes that it is extraordinary. An effective picture book for preschool science units. --Booklist Advanced Review Carolyn Phelan

This is a sweet little book about moths that can double as a pick-me-up for any child who isn t feeling special at the moment. Just as the boy does with the moth, young picture book readers are encouraged to take a second look at themselves and their own qualities to discover just how different and wonderful they truly are.
Thanks to author Karlin Gray, the little moth delights readers by laying out the details of its life in playful rhyme. The vocabulary is perfect for ages 4 to 8. Illustrator Steliyana Doneva's lovely portrait-paintings offer a lush and detailed look at insect life and color patterns.
Use this book in Science class to open a discussion about insects and observation skills. It is also a great book to open a discussion about self-love, character, and what talents and qualities each person has to offer to society. --Picture Book Depot

An Extraordinary Ordinary Moth by Karlin Gray and illustrated by Steliyana Doneva is a rhyming picture book about an unlikely creature a moth gray and ordinary. Readers will learn about the more exotic moths like the hummingbird moth (which really looks like a hummingbird!) and the luna moth. Kids will enjoy the colorful illustrations and learn about how special even an ordinary, gray moth is. --Pamela Kramer Blog

Feeling quite ordinary, a plain gray moth sadly compares itself to its more exotic kin, such as the Luna Moth, the Spider Moth, and the Hummingbird Moth. And the little moth feels even worse when a young girl sees it and says "Eww!" But things change when her brother explains that this particular type of moth is his favorite kind of insect. Maybe an ordinary moth is really extraordinary after all. Back matter includes fascinating moth facts, along with a special activity.

Author: Karlin Gray

Karlin Gray is not a lepidopterist—a scientist who studies moths and butterflies. But when her son announced that the moth was his favorite insect, she decided to take a closer look at the little creature. When she did, she learned some extraordinary things and was inspired to write An Ordinary Moth. Karlin is also the author of Nadia: The Girl Who Couldn’t Sit Still. She lives in Connecticut with her family. Visit her at www.KarlinGray.com.


Illustrator: Steliyana Doneva

Steliyana Doneva is a children’s book illustrator living in Sofia, Bulgaria. Her love of painting and drawing started in early childhood. Steliyana studied applied arts in Sofia, specializing in children’s toys. Then she graduated with a degree in graphic arts, where she found her love for children’s book illustration. Steliyana is very happy to be an illustrator for children’s books. By doing this she is immersed in a beautiful fairy-tale world where the soul can fly without restraint. She also illustrated An Extraordinary Ordinary Moth, written by Karlin Gray.