Butterfly coloring pages

The butterfly coloring pages follow the change from caterpillar to open wings: a striped caterpillar inching along a leaf, a butterfly just coming out of its cocoon, and full-grown ones resting on lavender and sunflowers or circling an old stone fountain.

For small children, the butterfly on a single flower and the two butterflies side by side have big wings and clear outlines. The greenhouse full of tropical plants and the migration over rolling hills are better for kids who enjoy a busier page.

Butterfly wings are symmetrical, so it helps to color both sides together, one shape at a time, using the same color on the left and the right. Felt-tip markers give the strongest color; colored pencils are better for the small spots near the body.

In spring, when the first butterflies show up in the garden, these sheets pair well with a picture book about caterpillars or a classroom lesson on metamorphosis. The caterpillar, the cocoon and the open wings can be hung up in order as a little timeline.