Yellow Butterfly

Yellow Butterfly – Teacher Guide

A quiet story about war, and a child’s hope that refuses to fade.

What the Story Is About

Yellow Butterfly by Oleksandr Shatokhin tells a story without using a single word. And yet, it speaks volumes. Through black-and-white drawings and one vivid yellow butterfly, we see a child navigating a world torn apart by war.

There are bombs, barbed wires, and broken buildings. But there’s also imagination. A stubborn kind of hope. And a longing to be free.

It’s a book about war—but also about what it means to keep dreaming when everything else feels dark.

When This Isn’t Your Reality

This book is rooted in a very real, ongoing war. Its images carry the weight of what children in Ukraine are living through—the fear, the loss, the longing for freedom.
While wars like these intensify such emotions, the book also allows children elsewhere to connect with those feelings in their own way. It offers a window into how conflict—whether large or small, far away or close to home—can shape a child’s inner world.

Is It Right for Primary Students?

This is an emotionally heavy book, even though it has no words. Because of its abstract storytelling and the powerful visuals, it might be more suitable for middle schoolers—children around 11 and up.

That said, every group is different. Some younger students may be ready for it. Some older ones may not want to engage deeply.
Take a moment to think about your group’s emotional maturity before reading the book with them. It’s perfectly okay to wait, or to revisit it later, when they’re ready.

Before You Bring It Into the Classroom

A few things to keep in mind as a teacher:

• You don’t need to explain the Ukraine-Russia conflict in detail. The story goes beyond that.

• This book isn’t about taking sides—it’s about understanding what children might feel in times of crisis.

• Create a safe and quiet space. Let students respond in their own way.

• It’s okay not to have all the answers. This book isn’t looking for them—it’s asking us to feel, notice, and reflect.

Conversations You Could Have

You might begin with questions like:

• What do you think the yellow butterfly means?

• Why do you think the rest of the book is in black and white?

• How do you think the child in the book is feeling?

• What kind of world do you think they’re dreaming of?

Sometimes, it’s easier for children to draw or act out what they’re feeling, especially with a wordless book. Allow for that. Let the silence be part of the experience.

A Few Gentle Cautions

• Don’t push children to talk. Let them take their time.

• Be careful not to say things like “we’re lucky we don’t have war.” Every child carries their own struggles, even in peaceful places.

• Avoid turning this into a history lesson or political discussion. Keep it human. Keep it kind.

• Let children step out or stay silent if they want to. That, too, is part of learning.

Winding Down With Care

After engaging with a book like Yellow Butterfly, it’s important to close the conversation gently. One way to do this is through a drawing activity that helps children shift from fear and sadness to imagination and healing.

Invite them to draw their idea of peace. You might say:

“We’ve just seen what a child’s world might look like during war. But what does peace look like to you? If you could draw a peaceful world—what would be there? What would people be doing? What would it feel like?”

This activity helps children express themselves without pressure. It leaves the room on a note of creativity, dignity, and quiet hope.
And it reminds us all: peace begins in the stories we dare to imagine.

A Final Thought

This book doesn’t explain. It doesn’t comfort. But it invites—it invites us to sit beside a child who’s holding on to hope in the middle of fear.

And in doing so, it reminds us why peace matters. Why listening matters. And why, sometimes, a yellow butterfly is more powerful than words.

Let it land gently in your classroom.