Dandelions

Description

One day, a little girl notices her father mowing the lawn - and in the process destroying her favourite flowers, the dandelions! To him, they were just weeds, but to her, they were yellow like the sun, about to turn into magical puff balls she could blow away on the breeze. How will Dad make it up to her? This heart-warming picture book explores the bond between a father and his daughter. Watch as the little girl's enthusiasm and wonder at the natural world makes Dad see it in a new light. Finding a patch of dandelions that survived the lawn-mowing, father and daughter each blow as hard as they can, and the tiny dandelion parachutes spiral and spin, up, up and away. The dandelions' little seed parachutes are swept on a journey around town, depicted with exquisite watercolour illustrations. They swirl through the front yard, down the street, over the park, by the river, around the forest outside town, and even bump into some hot air balloons! The little girl and her dad lie in the grass to watch their journey, Dad explaining where the seeds land and how new dandelions grow. Never again will he call them 'just a weed'! Dandelions is a beautiful exploration of nature, understanding, forgiveness, and the love between a parent and a child. It will also be cherished for its gentle reminder of how much we can learn about the world by seeing it through the eyes of children.

Katrina McKelvey is an author, former primary school teacher, and mother of two. She is the president of the Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA), Newcastle sub-branch, and on the organizing committee for the Newcastle Writers' Festival. Kirrili Lonergan is a children's book illustrator whose passion for art and communicating visually began at an early age. She has gained a profound understanding of the needs of children through her many years of working as a paediatric nurse.