A HANDFUL OF SUNSHINE

An offbeat and engaging offering in an oversized format from a new press. Eclare is a British gardening writer and photographer, and her skills are evident. Tilda loves sunflowers, and when she plants her own one spring, she’s surprised by a baby toad as she lays in her seeds. As the pages turn, we see Tilda’s sunflower grow taller and taller, producing a wonderful fat-faced golden flower. At the end of the summer, she harvests next year’s seed crop from the largest flower head, using a sturdy ladder to reach it. More complete growing instructions follow the text. The bright color photographs are clear and winsome: Tilda has a fetching array of multi-colored striped and patterned garb, and the growth of the sunflower is nicely chronicled. Eclare uses close-up and varying camera perspectives to create a sense of immediacy and intimacy. Expect a run on sunflower seed packets next spring. (Picture book. 4-8)