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THE WEEDFLOWER

Name: THE WEEDFLOWER
Author: Elizabeth Davaze
ISBN: 9781771475884

by Elizabeth Davaze ; illustrated by Marianne Ferrer ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 13, 2024

A charmingly rendered ode to childhood wonder.

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An observant youngster cultivates a dandelion growing on a playground.

Racially diverse children run and jump under the watchful eyes of adults. “No one spotted the tiny flower bud sprouting, impossibly, between the schoolyard’s cement and rubber turf”—except for blond-haired, light-skinned young Sam, lying on her tummy with her hands under her chin. Capturing children’s universal affection for this “weedflower,” the illustrations depict her showering the “alien bud” with attention. She sings to it, and eventually, other kids flock to see this tiny miracle and band together to guard and water it. It grows and grows—a lovely metaphor for what happens to all living things when shown love. Predictably, the adults don’t care for the “weed,” as they call it, and decide to get rid of the now-enormous flower. But love cannot so easily be extinguished. This is a stirring reminder of the place of honor the lowly dandelion has in many young people’s hearts. Davaze’s straightforward, clear text contrasts with Ferrer’s whimsical images. Relying on a palette of muted greens, rich browns, and crisp whites, the artist depicts the dandelion sprouting forth dramatically, its unappreciated beauty spilling onto the pages as the youngsters look on in awe. The story may prompt discussions as readers ponder the outcome and what it means to nurture something that others see little value in.

A charmingly rendered ode to childhood wonder. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: Aug. 13, 2024

ISBN: 9781771475884

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Owlkids Books

Review Posted Online: Sept. 28, 2024

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2024

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

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THE MOST MAGNIFICENT THING

by Ashley Spires ; illustrated by Ashley Spires ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2014

Spires’ understanding of the fragility and power of the artistic impulse mixes with expert pacing and subtle...

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Making things is difficult work. Readers will recognize the stages of this young heroine’s experience as she struggles to realize her vision.

First comes anticipation. The artist/engineer is spotted jauntily pulling a wagonload of junkyard treasures. Accompanied by her trusty canine companion, she begins drawing plans and building an assemblage. The narration has a breezy tone: “[S]he makes things all the time. Easy-peasy!” The colorful caricatures and creations contrast with the digital black outlines on a white background that depict an urban neighborhood. Intermittent blue-gray panels break up the white expanses on selected pages showing sequential actions. When the first piece doesn’t turn out as desired, the protagonist tries again, hoping to achieve magnificence. A model of persistence, she tries many adjustments; the vocabulary alone offers constructive behaviors: she “tinkers,” “wrenches,” “fiddles,” “examines,” “stares” and “tweaks.” Such hard work, however, combines with disappointing results, eventually leading to frustration, anger and injury. Explosive emotions are followed by defeat, portrayed with a small font and scaled-down figures. When the dog, whose expressions have humorously mirrored his owner’s through each phase, retrieves his leash, the resulting stroll serves them well. A fresh perspective brings renewed enthusiasm and—spoiler alert—a most magnificent scooter sidecar for a loyal assistant.

Spires’ understanding of the fragility and power of the artistic impulse mixes with expert pacing and subtle characterization for maximum delight. (Picture book. 4-7)

Pub Date: April 1, 2014

ISBN: 978-1-55453-704-4

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Kids Can

Review Posted Online: Feb. 25, 2014

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2014

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

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BYE BYE, BUTTERFLY
developed by Ashley Spires ; adapted by Naseem Hrab ; illustrated by Mike Shiell

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NO MOUSIE LEFT BEHIND
developed by Ashley Spires ; adapted by Naseem Hrab ; illustrated by Mike Shiell

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THE MOST MAGNIFICENT MAKER'S A TO Z
by Ashley Spires ; illustrated by Ashley Spires

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ON THE FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN

by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Laura Hughes ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 21, 2016

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of...

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Rabe follows a young girl through her first 12 days of kindergarten in this book based on the familiar Christmas carol.

The typical firsts of school are here: riding the bus, making friends, sliding on the playground slide, counting, sorting shapes, laughing at lunch, painting, singing, reading, running, jumping rope, and going on a field trip. While the days are given ordinal numbers, the song skips the cardinal numbers in the verses, and the rhythm is sometimes off: “On the second day of kindergarten / I thought it was so cool / making lots of friends / and riding the bus to my school!” The narrator is a white brunette who wears either a tunic or a dress each day, making her pretty easy to differentiate from her classmates, a nice mix in terms of race; two students even sport glasses. The children in the ink, paint, and collage digital spreads show a variety of emotions, but most are happy to be at school, and the surroundings will be familiar to those who have made an orientation visit to their own schools.

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of Kindergarten (2003), it basically gets the job done. (Picture book. 4-7)