Just Flowers

It is wintertime, and Izzy gets a new neighbor. He is a grumpy old man who is grousing because his roses are not blooming. Izzy points out the pretty snowdrops that are blooming in his yard, but he doesn’t like them. He tells Izzy to go away. After the snow melts, Izzy stops by and admires the buttercups that are blooming. He tells Izzy they are just flowers and to take them away. She shares them with her mom and brightens her day. Through the summer, Izzy points out all kinds of pretty flowers, but the grouchy neighbor’s response is always the same, and Izzy brightens many people’s days. Will he ever stop being grouchy?

Erin Dealy has written a perfectly charming story about being neighborly and how friendship and sharing can make a big difference. The text is sweet and funny, and the characters are delightful. The beautiful illustrations by Kate Cosgrove are filled with rich, saturated colors and fun details to help keep little listeners engaged. Two pages at the end have all the flowers’ common names as well as their scientific names and some information on helping Monarch butterflies. Don’t miss this sweet book.