The Blue Butterfly of Cochin is a beautifully written and gorgeously illustrated picture book of historical fiction that brings readers inside the Jewish community of Cochin, India through the eyes of Leah, a girl who loves to tell stories to the children of the synagogue and to the blue butterflies who always listen as they rest in the shade of the coconut tree. When Leah learns that her community will be immigrating to Israel, she feels conflicted: she is excited to go, but heartbroken to leave Cochin. A blue butterfly comforts her, reminding her that Cochin will always be with her, in her heart and in her stories.
Siona Benjamin’s vibrant and lush illustrations whirl and swirl across the pages, dancing like butterflies; a majestic blue butterfly wing buoys the plane on which Leah flies from India to Israel. She settles in a village but still misses Cochin and draws a blue butterfly. Soon, Leah discovers a grove of olive trees where blue butterflies gather and welcome her home.
Written by Ariana Mizrahi with the Indian Jewish Heritage Center and the Cochin Jewish Heritage Center, The Blue Butterfly of Cochin’s backmatter includes further information on the history and way of life of the Jews of Cochin and the large-scale immigration of the community to Israel in the 1950s.
The PJ Library Book Selection Committee is so pleased to be able to share The Blue Butterfly of Cochin with you. It is both a glimpse into mid-century Jewish life in India, and a universal story about change and what it means to be home.
May 1, 2025