One of the traditions at our library each summer is to watch as larvae mature into caterpillars, enter a chrysalis stage, and finally emerge as Painted Lady butterflies. Kids and their families (and staff!) enjoy observing the butterflies for a week or so before getting together for a butterfly-themed storytime and releasing the butterflies outside. We purchase Painted Lady larvae from Insect Lore, a “butterfly by mail” company whose tag line -“Get ’em, Grow ’em, Let ’em Go” – is self-explanatory. During their time at the library, the Painted Ladies undergo a metamorphosis from larvae to butterfly, in a room specially designated for the month as “The Flutterin’ Inn.” The room is decorated with child-created butterfly-related art, and a wide assortment of books about butterflies are available for checkout. The insects live in a tent which allows kids and their grown-ups to get an up-close look at them. It is…