PPBF – Just Flowers

It’s spring! Here in the northern hemisphere, the hours of daylight are increasing, temperatures are warming, and, most importantly, flowers are beginning to bloom. I found the Perfect Picture Book to celebrate, with thanks to Vivian Kirkfield, whose review alerted me to it, and to Sleeping Bear Press, who granted me access to an online copy for review, so I wouldn’t have to wait to share it with you.

Title: Just Flowers

Written By: Erin Dealey

Art By: Kate Cosgrove

Publisher/Date: Sleeping Bear Press/March 2024

Suitable for Ages: 6-7

Themes/Topics: gardening, sharing, beauty, neighbors, nature

Opening:

One blustery brr day, in a dreary dull town, a new neighbor moved in next door.

“Hi!” Izzy said to him. “I’m—.”

Brief Synopsis: Izzy’s grumpy new neighbor is interested only in the roses that grow in his garden, and he directs Izzy to get rid of the other flowers that grow there. As Izzy does so, Izzy beautifies the town and brings joy to its residents.

Links to Resources:

• Try these kids’ gardening activities;
• Discover ways to enjoy a garden with children of varying ages;
• Learn about weeds and wildflowers.

Why I Like this Book:

In Just Flowers, readers meet Izzy, a young child who loves flowers and learning about flowers, and a grumpy new neighbor who finds beauty only in roses. As late winter turns to spring and then summer, Izzy finds a variety of flowers growing in the neighbor’s garden. But the neighbor is interested only in his rose bushes, and he directs Izzy to get rid of the other flowers. Izzy does that by giving them to many people in town, thereby brightening their lives.

Children will love learning about the various flowers growing in the garden, including their Latin names, with further information about them in the back matter. Like Izzy, they’ll wonder why the grumpy neighbor doesn’t love all of the flowers. After all, who hasn’t seen a child mesmerized by a dandelion, that most beautiful “weed.” What a great opportunity to discuss notions of beauty and worth.

Children and their adult readers will love the inclusivity of the text and illustrations: Izzy is never identified by a pronoun, the name is genderless, and they wear a rainbow hoodie; and townspeople include a pediatrician wearing a head scarf, a principal with a prosthetic leg, a fellow student in a wheelchair, and many other inclusively-portrayed people.

I think everyone will agree that Izzy’s kindness paired with these not-roses flowers makes them anything but just flowers. Whether you read Just Flowers at home, in a classroom, or at the library, this hope-filled, inclusive story will bring a bouquet of smiles to brighten your life.

A Note about Craft:

I knew I wanted to read and review Just Flowers the minute I saw the cover and read the title. A lifelong gardener, I wondered about the qualifier “just,” as in only, merely, or less desirable, with flowers. I was intrigued to find out what made them less desirable, who considered them just flowers, and to what they were being compared. What a wonderful title to get readers thinking before they even open the book!

This Perfect Picture Book entry is being added to Susanna Hill’s Perfect Picture Book list. Check out the other great picture books featured there!