Tae-Eun Yoo

Love and family bloom and radiate on every page to create a heart-filled read.

A young girl spends time with her grandfather in his greenhouse and garden, enjoying their time together. She watches as he waters each plant, and he even gifts her one full of blossoms. As time goes on and she grows, his garden becomes smaller and smaller. Still, she remembers those moments, and while his garden isn't large, the love and flowers never completely disappear.

This is a celebration of family, especially the love between a grandfather and grandchild. Starting with a young girl and the hours she spends with her grandfather and his plants, the book progresses through time. The girl grows and goes her own way, while the grandfather ages, and while he doesn't lose his love for gardening, age forces him to draw back. Time flows calmly forward like a gentle stream. While the girl grows older, a bitter-sweetness takes over as she dreams and thinks of her grandfather. The entire thing ends like a loving hug, making it a feel-good-read with heart.

The scenes are bright but thanks to the sponged texture, carry a gentler tone. The feelings come across clearly, whether happy, sad, or longing. The bright, pink blossoms of the gifted flower pop just enough against the the greens and more neutral blossoms to catch attention without demanding it. And as a cute extra, there's the dog which ages right along with the girl. A new one appears when her own daughter joins the tale, adding a subtle message, which slides right in with the rest of read.

This is a book to cuddle up with and enjoy for quieter reading times. Plus, it can be used to inspire small green thumbs it grow their own flowers to create gifts of love.… (mere)