A young child (who reads as male but is never explicitly gendered) loves to dress up as a butterfly and “spin and swirl, twist and twirl, flutter and flap.” When four other kids tease him about his wings (while a fifth looks on, distressed but not actively intervening), he throws them away in disgust. His bearded, masculine-looking father helps him rebuild his wings and gain the confidence to go outside with them again. As he swirls around in them again, he finds a friend in the fifth child (who reads as a girl) and this time, can even fly!
The storyline feels similar to other books about gender creative boys who are teased and then find courage to be themselves with the help of a supportive parent or other adult (e.g., My Shadow Is Pink, Sparkle Boy, Carlos, The Fairy Boy/Carlos, El Niño Hada, Jesse’s Dream Skirt), but the gorgeous illustrations (particularly the verdant outdoor scenes) make it stand out.
The child and his father are both White. The children who tease are of various skin tones; the one who befriends him has light brown skin.
