Review: Dandelion Snow
Dandelion Snow
by Rinat Primo, illustrated by Maya Ish-Shalom, translated by June Amikam
Green Bean Books, 2024
Category: Picture Books
Reviewer: Shirley Reva Vernick
Buy at Bookshop.org
This Israeli author/illustrator team brings a life-affirming story about a kindergarten class in an Israeli town. Every Friday, the teachers take the children to play in nearby verdant fields bursting with wildflowers. The children’s favorite blossoms are the dandelions because of their bright yellow color and their white seed heads that flutter like snow when blown on. One day, though, the children learn that the fields will be closed off for the construction of new homes; quickly, the fields start getting dug up. The youngsters worry about what will become of their beloved dandelions. In a stroke of compassionate genius, they decide to gather some of the remaining dandelions and blow their seeds all along their walk back to school. The children know that next year, there will be flowers all over the neighborhood – and perhaps there will also be some new children to befriend in the homes being built.
Dandelion Snow joyously celebrates childhood, nature, and community in an organic, active way that is sure to engage young children, their teachers, and their families. The kindergartners, who can see the dandelions’ true beauty, are refreshingly appreciative of a flower that most adults consider weeds. The children’s generosity of spirit shines when their concern for the flowers supersedes any selfish concern over the loss of their play area. Instead of simply lamenting the dandelion problem, they create a solution – one that will bring bright yellow light to everyone in the neighborhood. The vibrant, detailed illustrations strongly support the story’s themes. Especially effective is the use of color: the urban areas of the town are gray, while the fields and the children pop with color. Props for including racial diversity.
This story honors the Jewish values of caring for the environment, tikkun olam, gratitude, learning from everyone, and community. Further Jewish content includes the Israeli location, the Hebrew names of characters, and the Hebrew lettering in the illustrations. Dandelion Snow’s universal themes will also be of interest to non-Jewish readers, especially in this era of environmental activism. Warmly recommended for home, school and library.
Are you interested in reviewing books for The Sydney Taylor Shmooze? Click here!
Reviewer Shirley Reva Vernick is a picture book, MG and YA novelist. Shirley’s debut novel, The Blood Lie, is a Sydney Taylor Honor Book and the winner of the Simon Wiesenthal Once Upon A World Book Award.
This Israeli author/illustrator team brings a life-affirming story about a kindergarten class in an Israeli town. Every Friday, the teachers take the children to play in nearby verdant fields bursting with wildflowers. The children’s favorite blossoms are the dandelions because of their bright yellow color and their white seed heads that flutter like snow when blown on. One day, though, the children learn that the fields will be closed off for the construction of new homes; quickly, the fields start getting dug up. The youngsters worry about what will become of their beloved dandelions. In a stroke of compassionate genius, they decide to gather some of the remaining dandelions and blow their seeds all along their walk back to school. The children know that next year, there will be flowers all over the neighborhood – and perhaps there will also be some new children to befriend in the homes being built.
Dandelion Snow joyously celebrates childhood, nature, and community in an organic, active way that is sure to engage young children, their teachers, and their families. The kindergartners, who can see the dandelions’ true beauty, are refreshingly appreciative of a flower that most adults consider weeds. The children’s generosity of spirit shines when their concern for the flowers supersedes any selfish concern over the loss of their play area. Instead of simply lamenting the dandelion problem, they create a solution – one that will bring bright yellow light to everyone in the neighborhood. The vibrant, detailed illustrations strongly support the story’s themes. Especially effective is the use of color: the urban areas of the town are gray, while the fields and the children pop with color. Props for including racial diversity.
This story honors the Jewish values of caring for the environment, tikkun olam, gratitude, learning from everyone, and community. Further Jewish content includes the Israeli location, the Hebrew names of characters, and the Hebrew lettering in the illustrations. Dandelion Snow’s universal themes will also be of interest to non-Jewish readers, especially in this era of environmental activism. Warmly recommended for home, school and library.
Are you interested in reviewing books for The Sydney Taylor Shmooze? Click here!
Comments
Post a Comment