Review of Burning Butterflies

This is a Leonberger blog, but I also post book reviews of books that I love and want to promote but are not about Leonbergers. With this post I would like to promote a truly wonderful poetry book that also feature a lot of photos, art, information and links to videos about African wildlife. This book is a masterpiece just like this wonderful book from the same author: Lion Scream.

Below is an overview of the two formats of Burning Butterflies: Poetry About Southern African Flora and Fauna Paperback – April 22, 2025, by Robbie Cheadle
  • Paperback –  Independently published April 22, 2025, ASIN : B0F2VCXZZV, ISBN-13 : 979-8315273431, 92 pages, Item Weight : 6.7 ounces, dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.22 x 9 inches, it cost $12.50 on US Amazon. Click here to order it from Amazon.com.
  • Kindle – Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 22, 2025, ASIN : B0F2SDF2GW, 94 pages. It is currently $5.99 on Amazon.com and free with Kindle unlimited. Click here to order it from Amazon.com.
The front cover features the title and author, butterflies and the front of an elephant at the center as well as fire in the background.
Front cover of Burning Butterflies. Click on the image to go to the Amazon page for the paperback version of the book.

Amazon’s Description of Burning Butterflies

Butterflies are interpreted, inter alia, as symbols of transformation and change, hope and rebirth, spirituality, the soul, creativity, nature, beauty, and resurrection. Faced with the annihilation of much of the planet’s forests, wetlands, and other habitats for wildlife, all the wonderful things that butterflies symbolise are gradually being destroyed.

This book celebrates Southern African flora and fauna, while acknowledging the threats it faces.

This is my Amazon review of Burning Butterflies

A Powerful and Poetic Statement on Wildlife

This is another masterpiece from author, poet, artist, wildlife photographer and naturalist Robbie Cheadle. I bought both the paper version and the kindle version. I prefer reading a real paper book, but it was easier to view all the beautiful YouTube videos using the Kindle. With only the paperback I would have to type in the url. The book features hundreds of beautiful poems, more than 90 colors photos and paintings, other kinds of art, dozens of YouTube videos and informational links. The focus is on African wildlife.

The author touches on important subjects such as the threats to wildlife and our planet from human development, climate change, and trophy hunting. The author’s love for wildlife and nature shines through in her poems, in her art, in her photos, and videos. More than anything I think this book is a beautiful tribute to the natural world. You also learn about African wildlife and various animals. I found it interesting that there are no bears in Africa. The last bear in Africa, an Atlas bear was killed in Morocco in 1870. Did you know that cheetah cubs have whitish fuzzy back that look like the back of honey badgers, a fierce animal. It is believed that it protects them.

The author is using the Butterfly as a symbol of transformation. She also expresses a special love for elephants. They are magnificent and intelligent animals. I felt that this book has so much to offer in terms of beauty, symbolism, art and wisdom. I highly recommend this book.

Photo of the author, title of the book “Burning Butterflies: Poetry About Southern African Flora and Fauna Paperback” and the Amazon overview of the book.
Back cover of Burning Butterflies. Click on the image to go to the Amazon page for the Kindle version of the book.

About the Author of Burning Butterflies

South African author, photographer, and artist, Robbie Cheadle, has written and illustrated seventeen children’s books, illustrated a further three children’s books, and written and illustrated four poetry books. Her work has also appeared in poetry and short story anthologies.

Robbie also has two novels and a collection of short stories published under the name of Roberta Eaton Cheadle and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.

Robbie’s blog includes recipes, fondant and cake artwork, poetry, and book reviews.

Click here to visit is her Goodreads page

Click here to visit her TSL Publications Page

Click here to visit is her Twitter account

Click here to visit is her Facebook account

These are her published books on Amazon.

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Author: thomasstigwikman

My name is Thomas Wikman. I am a software/robotics engineer with a background in physics. I am currently retired. I took early retirement. I am a dog lover, and especially a Leonberger lover, a home brewer, craft beer enthusiast, I’m learning French, and I am an avid reader. I live in Dallas, Texas, but I am originally from Sweden. I am married to Claudia, and we have three children. I have two blogs. The first feature the crazy adventures of our Leonberger Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle as well as information on Leonbergers. The second blog, superfactful, feature information and facts I think are very interesting. With this blog I would like to create a list of facts that are accepted as true among the experts of the field and yet disputed amongst the public or highly surprising. These facts are special and in lieu of a better word I call them super-facts.

88 thoughts on “Review of Burning Butterflies”

  2. This is a lovely review of Robbie’s book, Thomas! You’re right in that, Robbie is passionate about the wildlife. I love that she incorporated her poetry, art, photography, and videos in this book. I know you like to have a paperback but you’re right that it’s easier to click the links for the videos and other information. Congratulations to Robbie on the excellent review and thank you for sharing, Thomas.

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    1. Thank you so much Miriam. You are right, her passion for wildlife really shines through in the book, in her poetry, art, photography, and videos. Kindle is cheaper so I don’t mind buying both so I can more easily have the videos too. If I don’t have the kindle I have to type in the links by hand, which is doable but cumbersome.

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      1. You’re welcome, Thomas. It’s convenient to click the links on Kindle. I don’t quite like to type the links because it has to be exact. The Italy trip I mentioned is finally here. We’re leaving on Saturday.

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        1. Yes, for LionScream I typed all the links and it wasn’t terrible, but this time I bought the kindle too, to have a shortcut to the videos. Congratulations on your Italy trip. You may have left already but have a great trip.

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    2. HI Miriam, I have recently learned that you can now include a QR code in a paperback book which your phone used to take you to the video or link. I’m going to try and include those next time. Thank you for your lovely support of my writing and artwork.

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  3. I love reading Robbie’s animal posts, particularly since she has the opportunity to see wildlife that is not found in our part of the world. I learn something new every time.

    My oldest brother in vice president of the North American Butterfly Association (NABA).

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    1. Yes, I learn something new from Robbie’s posts and her books every time I read them as well. I think it is very cool that your oldest brother is vice president of the North American Butterfly Association. I would suggest this book for him.

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  6. This is a fabulous review, Thomas. I have not read another that fully describes, Robbie’s beautiful book. The suggestion on the Kindle is very helpful too. Congratulations to Robbie and thanks to you for such a terrific review.

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    1. HI John, Thomas really does have a great appreciation for nature and wildlife, and I am very grateful for that. The kindle book does make sense because it is interactive. I always read ebooks now, but some people prefer a paperback which is why I also publish a paperback.

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  12. Thank you Thomas for sharing Robbies beautiful book, Robbie’s poems are always heartfelt and I know how keenly she shares her passion of Nature and its preservation. Not only is Robbie a wonderful Author and story teller, but an excellent cook and Artist as well…. Many thanks Thomas for sharing this review… Wishing you a peaceful weekend 🙂

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  13. Thank you, Thomas, for sharing your review. Like you, I very much enjoyed Burning Butterflies. Robbie is a wonderful writer, and her love of nature quickens my own. Bravo, Robbie, on another great review! ❤️

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  15. Hi Thomas, thank you for this wonderful review. I appreciate your interest in southern African wildlife and your assistance in spreading the message about their beauty and also their plight. TC and I have a standing joke with the game rangers when we go to the reserves. They always ask what animals we want to see, and we always say bears and tigers, neither of which live in Africa.

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    1. Ha ha “bears and Tigers”, I’ll bet some tourists would ask that seriously. You are right I love nature, and south African nature and animals, and your book is so beautiful and important. Thank you so much for the reading experience.

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  16. Pingback: Roberta Writes – Repost: Review of Burning Butterflies #bookreview #poetry

  21. A while back we watched a documentary about the man in Mexico who was trying to save the monarch butterfly’s winter forest habitat from logging and other development, Homero Gomez Gonzalez. He was murdered for his troubles of course. Sigh. (Just in case, that was me, not the animals. Stupid WordPress is leaving comments as them again even though it swears to high heaven I’m logged in as myself and it shows my avatar in the comment box.)

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    1. That is a very sad and troubling story. This time it says “James Viscosi”. Maybe because this is a different blog, or maybe because it took time. But WP seem to have many issues lately.

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  22. Robbie’s book has done exceptionally well for good reason. It’s a lovely book chock full of important information. It’s a delightful read, and your review does it justice. The cover art is phenomenal, too. Robbie is such a multi-talented person! Thanks for sharing, Thomas!

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