The Day We Were Mostly Butterflies by Louise W. King

The fact that the boys like the boys and ditto for the girls is the most normal aspect of this wacky, comic first novel. In four episodes by Maurice Calhoun, a harrassed interior decorator, it centers on Miss Moppet a My Friend Irma in ''fairy'' land, her adventures and relationship with Lillian-''Lady truckdriver type.'' The Day We Were Mostly Butterflies was the day Mama (Maurice) and Baby (Moppet) Butterfly fluttered to the beach along with Emma Hamlet Woodhouse (turtle- cherished gift from Lillian who has been absent for a year after leaving Moppet under the wing of Maurice). Moppet manages to flit off leaving Maurice to wonder if the identification tag will pay off and/or if he will have to pay off-''My human is looking for me. Please return me for $25.00 reward.'' At this crucial moment Lillian arrives. Have Ladybird Will Travel reminisces on the time Moppet ventured into infidelity-and ended up being mistaken for a corpse. The Love Goddess of the Middle West is Moppet's cousin , aspirant Beatnik/folksinger who moves in -- Lillian moves out. Moppet decides to ''Out Herod Herod,'' learns the lingo like a mad man and ends up as an accused dope-pusher. In The Excursion to Ultimathule a surprise birthday present for Lillian from Moppet turns up in the laundry room- a horse. ''Oliver'' is carefully tiptoed off to a stable but then Moppet decides to ride him to Florida- naturally it's mid-winter. Along with a comic sense, Miss King has an acute car- Maurice's presentation - you have no idea, it's too delightful. ~ Kirkus Review