That's Not a Daffodil!

PreS-Gr 1—Tom's neighbor gives him a bulb and tells him it is a daffodil, but Tom thinks it looks more like an onion than a flower. Mr. Yilmaz teaches the boy how to plant it and care for it, and each time they meet, he asks, "How's the daffodil?" Tom always has an imaginative answer—it's a green beak, a hand with five flat fingers, a street light, etc. Finally, it really looks like a daffodil, and the boy's excitement is contagious as he grabs Mr. Yilmaz by the hand and takes him to what now looks like "a trumpet of gold!" The artwork, done in muted colors, is simple and soft and shows the child's imagination as he watches each stage of the bulb's growth. The relationship between the exuberant boy and his encouraging neighbor is a delight as they care for the plant. When a dog knocks over the pot, one of Mr. Yilmaz's grandchildren yells, "Call the plant ambulance!" A charming story, beautifully illustrated.—Kris Hickey, Columbus Metropolitan Library, OH