Celia

PreS-Gr 2—This is a beautiful story about a wise old woman who listens to the sadnesses of many neighbors. In return, the people give her seeds of sorrow, which she turns into beautiful balloons, frosted cupcakes, flowers on a hill, sparkling stars, and apples on a tree. On her journey to plant beauty, she discovers a lost seed and learns that it belongs to an unhappy child named Julian. Together they plant it, and over time, the seed grows into a tiny flower. Julian learns not only about the joy of watching his seed grow into a flower but also about the happiness he finds in nurturing the plants with his new friend Celia. This story offers the power of kindness, the magic of transformation, and the unique tale of how beauty can be found in happiness through the seed of sadness. Double-page spreads drawn in black and white and the use of bright color bubbles set the mood effectively. The drawings are rendered in acrylic, gouache, watercolor, and ink.—Melissa Smith, Royal Oak Public Library, MI