Kamillah the Butterfly

Kamillah the Butterfly is an Islamic picture book for children aged 4 to 9 about a hungry caterpillar who is worried about the changes in her body, and the beautiful surprise that Allah has in store for her.

One morning Kamillah wakes up very hungry. From then on she spends every day munching through leaves, big and small, and she grows bigger and bigger. Worried and glum, she asks her friend Bilkis the butterfly what is happening to her. Bilkis knows, and smiles. You will be flying in a while, she says. Kamillah is puzzled: she is a caterpillar, she has no wings, and she certainly does not fly. All in good time, says Bilkis.

Kamillah is so tired that she falls into a deep sleep, and as she sleeps she is wrapped in a chrysalis. Two weeks go by, and colours bloom through her body. Then, pop! She comes out, stretches and finds that she has grown wings. MashaAllah, she says, look how colourful they are. Bilkis reminds her that Allah has made us all in different shapes, sizes and colours, and that along the way we are given beautiful surprises.

The story helps children facing a change, like growing up or starting something new, to be patient and to trust that change can bring something good. It is written by Shoohada Khanom and illustrated by Harriet Rodis, and it is music-free.

One morning, Kamillah the caterpillar woke up feeling very hungry. From then on, she spent every day eating her way through leaves, large or small: the size did not matter. She ate so much that she grew bigger and bigger, and still she kept on munching.

Feeling worried and glum, she went to her friend Bilkis the butterfly. "Look at me, Bilkis," she said. "I'm getting so big. What do you think is happening to me?"

Bilkis knew exactly what was going on, and gave a tiny smile. "Don't worry, it's okay," she said. "You'll be flying in a while."

"Flying in a while?" said Kamillah, scratching her head. She was a caterpillar. She did not have wings, and she certainly did not fly.

"All in good time, my friend, all in good time," Bilkis replied, fluttering in the air. "You look exhausted. Maybe you need some rest."

Before Bilkis had even finished speaking, Kamillah yawned and fell into a deep sleep. Now nothing could wake her, not even a tug at her tiny little legs. As she snored softly, her body began to change. Slowly she grew an outer layer, until she was wrapped up in a chrysalis.

Two weeks went by, and Kamillah snored and snored. With each passing day, different colours emerged and bloomed through her body. Then one day she raised her sleepy head and, pop, out of the chrysalis she came.

She tried to stretch, and noticed something very strange. "Bilkis!" she gasped. "Come quickly, something's happened to me."

Bilkis hurried over, and smiled when she saw her friend.

"MashaAllah, I've grown wings!" said Kamillah, fluttering her new wings. "Look how colourful they are."

"Allah has made us all in different shapes, sizes and colours," said Bilkis the butterfly, with a big smile. "And along the way, we are given beautiful surprises."