By Thomas Marent
280 pages; DK Publishing

Social butterflies may have their charms, but those delicate beauties who rank nectar over martinis are truly irresistible. To leaf through Butterfly (DK Publishing), Thomas Marent's spectacularly vivid and richly detailed photos of the creatures he adores, is not only to exult at the symmetrical perfection of pattern and design on an extended wing but also to marvel at the caterpillar's exquisite potential (politicians, note—this is what change means!). Watching these fragile creatures navigate their increasingly threatened habitats makes the heart flutter and soar.