Poppy, Buttercup, Bluebell, and Dandy

A group of young wildflowers on skateboards and scooters zoom around the pages of Poppy, Buttercup, Bluebell, and Dandy by Fiona Woodcock. They leave seeds all over to create color and life where there was only gray before.

Poppy, Buttercup, Bluebell, and Dandy (the names of our heroines) is a straight forward story about conservation and making your world beautiful by going out and doing instead of just standing by. The watercolor-like illustrations keep with the lightheartedness of the text. This allows the deeper meaning to not be as overwhelming to the reader. Young children will just enjoy the story of flowers having a good time. They will enjoy the bright colors as well. Adults will see the under-the-surface story. Yet, in the end, it really is just a story of flowers being flowers in a fairy-like manner.

Woodcock has a few other books. One that did well in my store was A Dot in the Snow. Knowing this, shows how her style is very consistent. If you like that sweet, happy ending story, she is for you.  If you prefer a darker story, obviously, she is not for you. Her illustrations are the perfect addition to the story. Sweet and fun. Where there are gray areas/non-flower and/or seeded areas, you know soon there will be color. Our flower-friends, you know, will never be in any danger. There is not action in the traditional sense. The text is poetic as the illustrations.  But there are no surprises for this reader.