That really is like magic Finley said Every spring and summer several generations of butterflies go through this
process Ms Bird explained Each butterfly lives as an adult for an average of four to six weeks But the fall butterflies are really special Why Olivia asked Ms Bird wrote fall butterflies on the board This generation of butterflies lives for seven to nine months They store extra energy from the nectar they drink on the long trip all the way back to Mexico the same place their ancestors started the journey There’s not a lot of food for them there so they’ll need that extra energy to survive the winter Finley’s friend Kate raised her hand Wait if the fall butterflies have never been to Mexico how do they know where to fly It’s like the monarchs have some type of built-in compass to guide them Ms Bird said Scientists think that compass tells the butterflies the time of day and the position of the sun so they can find their way south Kind of like the GPS in our car Henry said Kind of Ms Bird pressed the remote The screen showed a picture of trees covered with butterflies After the long journey the monarchs rest in the mountains Their heart rates slow and they huddle together for warmth clinging to the trees Cool Finley exclaimed It’s like a big butterfly blanket Ms Bird turned the projector off and the lights on We’ll spend some more time looking at monarchs But now for something almost as exciting She paused and gave the class a mysterious look What Finley and Olivia said together Monarchs are experts at transformation Ms Bird said walking to the front of the room They change from eggs to caterpillars to chrysalises to butterflies She turned to face the class That reminds me there’s a holiday coming up where we can transform ourselves into something new as well Halloween the class shouted Ms Bird grinned You got it On Friday we’ll participate in the annual fourth-grade
Halloween parade Now that you’re the oldest students at Glendale Elementary you’ll get to strut your stuff and show off your costumes for the rest of the school Yes Finley thought We’ve been in the audience since kindergarten and now it’s our turn to take the stage We’ll also have a class party with snacks and games Ms Bird continued and a dance floor where you can bust out some monster moves So come as you aren’t and be prepared to party I’ve already picked out my costume What is it Finley asked A mermaid Kate asked hopefully Ms Bird shook her head A famous artist Arpin said like Frida Kahlo or Georgia O’Keeffe Nope Ms Bird said Einstein Henry guessed Ms Bird laughed You’ll just have to wait and see Finley glanced at Henry and did a little dance She loved school She loved her teacher and her friends She loved the smell of freshly sharpened pencils the art supplies at the craft table and the reading corner full of pillows and books She loved learning about amazing things like monarch butterflies But today she couldn’t wait for school to be over she had a costume to plan This was going to be the most Fin-tastic Halloween yet
Chapter 2 WHAT TO WEAR I can’t wait for Halloween Finley said as she and Henry burst through the school doors that afternoon Especially the parade What are you dressing up as Elvis Henry said in his best Elvis voice Finley laughed Henry loved Elvis Presley He even had a collection of Elvis records I just need to pick a style Henry continued as they headed toward their street There are so many great Elvis looks to choose from Finley jumped over a sidewalk crack Like what Henry unzipped his backpack and took out his notebook I made a list rockabilly Elvis army Elvis cowboy Elvis Hawaiian Elvis karate Elvis but since it’s Halloween I think I might be vampire Elvis Wow Finley said I didn’t know Elvis was a vampire Henry grinned He wasn’t But he would have made a great one I can totally see you as vampire Elvis Finley said She scooped up a leaf and twirled it between her fingers What kind of costume should I make Something funny Or scary Or wild I can’t decide Well Henry said last year you were a carrot Finley frowned Don’t remind me I could barely walk with all that stuffing And the green hairspray took forever to wash out You should have stopped me Henry shrugged It seemed like a good idea at the time No one had the same costume as you And carrots are your favorite vegetable This year I’m going to be the opposite of a carrot Finley said Something with
