The Best Flower Ever!

April 1, 2023
A pup takes pride in a flower until others show up with better ones. Decked out in a plaid bandanna, a spotted dog happily holds up a tiny potted daisy. "Would you like to see my beautiful little flower?" A Chihuahua yaps that it is lovely but then brings out a great big sunflower. The original pup droops. "That is...humungous." Desperate for validation, the dog asks a passing hound, "Doesn't it smell lovely?! Please tell me how lovely it smells!" The hound agrees but then brings out some lavender. Everyone swoons. More and more pups come, each proclaiming the attributes of their flowers (one even says, "My flower potty trained the cat!"). (All the canines pause in consternation.) In spare text, broken into color-coded speech bubbles, Hudson deftly explores the feelings of jealousy and frustration that often ensue when we compare ourselves to others. Luckily, these doggo pals come together in the end, realizing each flower is special in its own--helpful--way. The anthropomorphic dogs cut hilarious figures in the watercolor-and-colored pencil artwork; a poodle with an oversized hairdo and a bespectacled Great Dane are especially fun additions. There is also a subplot to be discovered in the illustrations; follow the antics of the frog and two birds for extra chuckles. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A gentle reminder that there are more important things than aspiring to being the best. (Picture book. 4-7)

COPYRIGHT(2023) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

May 15, 2023
Comparison proves the thief of joy in this tale from Hudson (Turtle in a Tree) about a sweet-natured dog learning to nurture their own “best” thing. An enthusiastic pooch sporting a red gingham bandana can’t wait to show off the beautiful, lovely-smelling potted flower they hold in their paws. But though a chihuahua-like acquaintance in a natty blue sweater is admiring, they’ve got a flower of their own to share—one that’s much bigger (“That is... humongous”) and grows in a fancier pot (“I bejeweled it myself”). Soon, a passel of pups engage in an escalating game of can-you-top-this, each boasting via colored speech bubbles about their respective blooms’ magnificent qualities (“My flower potty trained the cat!”). But when a moment of one-upmanship results in a mishap for the protagonist’s plant, the whole canine crew pulls together to cultivate the special varietal, honoring the protagonist’s own crushed flower—and feelings. Hudson’s delicate watercolor and colored pencil art populates a sunny green meadow with exceedingly expressive pups, as well as birds and a frog who regard the goings-on. The mix of sly and silly, which captures the dynamics of a visually detailed dog community and includes a couple of late-arc gags, is just right to elicit laughs. Ages 3–7. Agent: Rebecca Sherman, Writers House.

July 28, 2023

PreS-Gr 2-This story of learning to be content with what one has is told entirely through dialogue and images. It begins with a dog lovingly observing a flower as it grows and then showing it off to others. But as other dogs display flowers that are bigger, have a fancier pot, or can survive in the desert, the protagonist becomes more and more frustrated. It is only when the flower is gone that the owner realizes what has been lost. Watercolor and colored pencil illustrations capture the initial pride in the soft white petals and small brown pot. Then a giant sunflower (owned by a tiny chihuahua) causes the protagonist's ears to droop. Smelling the lavender in another pot has the chihuahua's tail wagging in joy as soft purple wisps of color show the scent spreading out. And all the dogs present pile in for a group hug when the lovely white flower is ruined. From competition and jealousy to care and cooperation, this story covers the range of reactions involved in ownership and loss. VERDICT A delightful read that will keep youngsters searching for more details every time they open the book.-Suzanne Costner

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.