MISS DAISY'S FLOWERS

A young rodent copes with death.

Miss Daisy is Mouse’s much-loved teacher. But she is ill and might not get better and return to school. Her farewell gift for each student is a live plant; Mouse’s grandmother helps plant Mouse’s in the garden, and Mouse “takes very good care of the flowers.” Then Mouse has an idea: writing Miss Daisy letters describing all the mouse friends’ activities. Mouse will draw the pictures, and Mom will write the words. Mouse asks Mom if Miss Daisy might die, like Cat and Fish (crosses in the garden suggest their graves). Mouse becomes upset when Mom says yes. When Mouse eventually learns of Miss Daisy’s death, Mom comforts and hugs the child. And there are distractions for young Mouse, both before and after Miss Daisy’s passing: the garden, where Miss Daisy’s flowers—naturally a type of daisy—have flourished and spread, a large toy airplane, a tree house, a kite made by Grandpa. The pictures ostensibly drawn by Mouse have wavering lines, but they are clearly more competent than average child art. The soft images depict gray, tan, and white mice that straddle the line between realistic and anthropomorphic. Setting colors are subdued, with lots of chartreuse, and the gentle style complements the subject; many vignettes float in the middle of the pages.

Subtly suggests ways to cherish memories after someone is gone.