Wildflower

by Melanie Brown, Sara Gillingham

A moving picture book for ages 3 to 8 about a daisy who is told she’s “just a weed”—and embarks on a journey to find her place in the garden.

Daisy is new to the garden and just opening her petals to the sun when Rose tells her that she's just a weed. What’s a weed? Daisy asks. Weeds aren't planted on purpose, Rose explains, and they only get in the way. Soon Daisy compares herself to other plants in the garden: she isn't tall like Sunflower, nor sweet like Strawberry, nor fragrant like Rose. Daisy worries that Rose might be right—that she is a weed after all—until a strange and beautiful plant offers Daisy a different perspective. Maybe Daisy can choose her own purpose! And why do others get to decide who she is?

Genres: Picture Books, Storytime, Nature, Childrens, Gardening, Contemporary

40 pages, Hardcover

Published May 24, 2022

Reviews

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is a weed? Is beauty only in the eye of the beholder? A daisy blooms and joyfully lifts up her petals to the sun. Then the critics start in on whether she is really a flower. She begins to droop. What is she good for? She doesn't smell and look amazing like Rose or make things taste yummy like Sage. Then Daisy meets Sweetpea with her beautiful smell and Blackberry Vine with her juicy berries. Neither of them were planted in this garden, but have blown in on the wind or snuck over the fence. There is more than enough sunshine for them all. Includes a page about types of weeds: Wildflowers, Herbs, Native plants, Invasive plants, and Plants that fertilize the soil. Also an Author's Note making the Case for Weeds. Its a beautiful book that will help you to look at your garden in a new way.

[Mid-Continent Public Library]

What is a weed? Is beauty only in the eye of the beholder? A daisy blooms and joyfully lifts up her petals to the sun. Then the critics start in on whether she is really a flower. She begins to droop. What is she good for? She doesn't smell and look amazing like Rose or make things taste yummy like Sage. Then Daisy meets Sweetpea with her beautiful smell and Blackberry Vine with her juicy berries. Neither of them were planted in this garden, but have blown in on the wind or snuck over the fence. There is more than enough sunshine for them all. Includes a page about types of weeds: Wildflowers, Herbs, Native plants, Invasive plants, and Plants that fertilize the soil. Also an Author's Note making the Case for Weeds. Its a beautiful book that will help you to look at your garden in a new way.
*Review by Darla from Red Bridge*

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful pictures!

[*JEN the booknerd* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable!! Beautiful artwork as well!

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reccomend Age 3-8 years
*CANADIAN*
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🌿
Thoughts ~
An adorable and inspiring picture book about fitting it and supporting each other.

Daisy is full of happiness until Rose tells her she's just a weed and wasn't planted on purpose thus shes insignificant in the garden. But Daisy chats to the other plants and realizes each one of them brings something different and valuable. And that being a Wildflower is a beautiful thing!

First of all these bright illustrations are the cutest thing! My daughter loves all their little faces so much. And learning about all the different flowers was really cool! The message within this book comes across perfectly for this age group. Believing in yourself and holding others up is the best way for all to learn and grow! We loved this one! This special book is available now.

Thank You @greystonekids for sending us this copy opinions are my own.

For more of my book content check out instagram.com/bookalong

[Gabrielle Stoller · Rating 5 out of 5]

GORGEOUSLY illustrated book about accepting yourself. Embracing who you are even if people say you are "just a weed"

[Teresa Biggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story about a daisy who is told she is a weed and meets all the other fliers on the garden to find out who is planted and who is blown in by seed

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just blooming, Daisy found she was living in a beautiful garden. Several other flowers told her they were useful, but that she was just a weed. Soon Daisy was feeling very sad, but then other pretty flowers said they were called weeds, too, but they were helpful. In the story, all flowers are shown to have their place, including weeds. On the front and back end pages are labelled illustrations of different flowers, such as the daisy, fireweed, clover, and several more known as common weeds. At the end of the story is a gardener's glossary: what is a weed? , and an author's note: the case for weeds. This is a beautifully illustrated book.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE this book! Daisy is feeling happy and energetic, until Rose tells her she's a weed. She's not wanted, not planted, and just gets in the way.
As Daisy hears this over and over from the different planted plants - flowers that are beautiful, make berries, and feed people - she feels worse and worse about herself.
Until she smells Sweet Pea's delicious scent and learns that she is a "weed" too! Then we meet Dandelion who children wish on, and Blackberry Vine who creeps into yards making berries. They call themselves wild flowers, and prove that being a "weed" is not a bad thing at all!
Great pictures, great message, very sweet.

[Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet story that can be taken literally--weeds can be good and helpful for the environment--but also given a deeper human meaning--where you come from isn't the only thing that defines you. The full-color illustrations pop right off the page in with joyful sunshiny glory. The plants are stylized and anthropomorphized in a way that is lovely, adorable, and full of personality, but takes little away from the ability to identify them in real life. This would be a great story time choice, especially for Summer Reading Program 2023: All Together Now : Todos Juntos Ahora

[Elizabeth Seibel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an adorable book about different types of flowers and what they bring to the world. Daisy gets worried when she's told she's "just a weed," but being just a weed can still be a good thing. I loved reading about all the different flowers including the "weeds" and what they offer us. My kids loved looking at the pictures and saying, "You're not JUST a weed!" You really start to feel for the poor flower. Great book to introduce different types of plants.

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This simple story introduces wee ones to various garden plants and their uses along with a few “weeds” whose usefulness have yet to be fully discovered. The haughty attitude of the rose was a bit disappointing, though, suggesting that beauty is associated with arrogance. Perhaps there’s a more peaceful, neighborly way for Daisy to learn self-esteem without the other plants’ put-downs and unnecessary hierarchy of importance in the garden community?

[Mother Goose Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each time wildflower is told she is a weed, she wilts a little bit more. Soon other wildflowers boost her confidence. Charming illustrations were created digitally. The bright and cheerful artwork adds so much appeal to this beautiful story with a beautiful message. Includes a Garden Glossary and author’s note. Perfect for a garden or friendship story time theme. Highly recommended.

[Capn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. Knee-high loves this book. All the weeds, ahem, wildflowers in my garden that I leave for the bees and native wildlife love it. Absolutely adorable, simple, engaging, bright and sunny, with a subtle but clear message of accepting newcomers who are different.

[Holly Wagner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a gardener, so knowing what is a weed and what isn't is important. The metaphor of what is a weed and what isn't doesn't fall on deaf ears to this librarian. This book is not a weed, but I'm not sure its going to get the water it needs to survive.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how the plants are anthropomorphic in this book! I also learned more about weeds and how they often get a worse reputation than they deserve. This book does a great job of explaining how things work together in the ecology of a garden without getting too over children’s heads.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This could be helpful to read with kids who are called names or shamed for something about themselves. Liked it but am strangely stuck on the sunflower illustration - needed longer petals and to look more like a sunflower.

4yo loves a garden theme to explain any concept.

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful! Love the opportunities for classroom discussion--from science of plants to SEL! And the illustrations are marvelous.

[Margaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this sweet story of acceptance.

[Terry Jacobsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful read, perfect for younger audiences. Use to discuss that everyone has value.

[Kristin · Rating 2 out of 5]

The moral of this obvious story is that everyone has a purpose... Yawn.... Nice illustrations of flowers.

[Liz]

Readathon 2022. A sweet children’s book.

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Visually striking story about a garden with a lesson on inclusion.

[Syntha Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice intro to different types of flowers and their uses

[Ladybug Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story of blooming where you are planted and how none of us are weeds.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super sweet and beautiful art! Such a wonderful message that everyone is special. I can't believe how cute and unique the art is.

[Elaine Fultz, Teacher Librarian, MLS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Answers the question what is a weed? Fantastic palette and information.

[Lillian Slater · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adore children’s books that teach them important life lessons!

[SamSamSam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Background knowledge, social-emotional, TALK. Love these illustrations and the weed love! Young Pearl feels seen by the dandelion love.