Images courtesy of American Museum of Natural History.

It’s nearly summer! Flowers have bloomed and baby birds have hatched. But it’s also the time of year when many butterflies lay their eggs or caterpillars begin to hatch from winter.

Hazel Davies, Manager of Living Exhibits at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, has published a stunning tome, The Exquisite Butterfly Companion ($14.95) that focuses on all things Lepidoptera. The special box set includes a thorough field guide featuring scientific and informative details about nearly 100 species of butterfly and moth. For the artistic bug in your young learner, there is an envelope with 100 rich images of the each genus specified in the book.

The craft ideas are limitless! Take The Exquisite Butterfly Companion to your nearby park to explore what species flutter in your neighborhood or pack it for excursions outside of the city. It makes for a perfect summertime gift for any Lepidoptera fan—young or old.