Even though Mr. Baxter’s flower shop has plants of all sizes, colors and shapes, we meet the titular Blossom and Bud, two flowers who don’t like the way they look and often compare themselves to the other flowers.

The illustration by Brittany Lakin was stunning. They are colourful, diverse, and thoughtful. Frank J. Sileo delivered a powerful message of acceptance and body positivity in simple, interactive text that is easy to read to and BY children. Not to mention that the attention to detail is on point. I love how when using adjectives such as thin, thick, short, etc. The font reflected each of those adjectives. I also appreciated that the book begins with opposites. Both choices help children take pride and feel successful in their reading efforts.

I absolutely loved this book and will be adding it to my ever-growing classroom library!
I’m really happy it comes out on April 13th, just in time for Spring!

Thank you, Magination Press, NetGalley and Frank J. Sileo for providing me with an advanced copy of Blossom and Bud in exchange for an honest review.
#BlossomandBud #NetGalley

Blossom and Bud is a great concept with beautiful pictures but I wish there had been a bit more. The discussion points at the end are important for parents to read but I would've preferred if there had been more for my little ones.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. Blossom and Bud are different from the other plants in the store. Blossom is very tall, and Bud just won't bloom, and the other flowers make fun of them. The store owner has big plans for them, though.

What a great children's story! I love the message of this story - that the world is full of people of different sizes, shapes, heights, skin tones, etc., and that each of us is special and necessary! Not only does the messaging come across loud and clear (and would be great for a classroom discussion), but the photos in the book also depict diversity in body shapes, sizes, and race.

The tips at the back of the book for adults are also great. I love the idea of sharing this book with parents of any of my kiddos who are struggling with body image and self-esteem.

Blossom and Bud, live in a flower shop amongst the most beautiful flowers but they feel that they are not beautiful enough. The flower shop owner has the perfect job for them and they quickly learn that however they look, there is a special place for everyone. I was prepared for this book to be a little preachy but it isn't at all. It is a simple beautifully illustrated story which shows the value in us all, without laying it on too thick. The brevity of the words and illustrations showing parings of people who are different from one another, but bring each other joy, complement each other perfectly. There are also useful tips in the back of the book for helping support children in learning about and valuing their body image.

This was a perfect book to help learn to love who you are! We’re all perfect the way we were made. The illustrations were absolutely beautiful!

This was absolutely precious! The artwork was so colourful and really popped and will definitely keep a child’s attention.

But the most important and most heart wrenching part of the story was about the two characters. They both don’t think they are good enough, one thinks they are too tall, the other too short. But, we see as they are chosen because of those aspects. The parts of themselves they didn’t like were the parts that shone and made them so beautiful and perfect. The messages in this were so powerful for such a short and quick book! I loved this so much.

5/5 ⭐️

Blossom & Bud is an adorable children’s book about how what makes us different is our unique qualities. Each flower was important for the wedding because of their different attributes. I like that this book will remind kids that everyone is different in their own way and that it is okay. Our differences are what makes us so special.

Blossom and Bud are two flowers living in a flower shop that is filled with a vast array of colors and aromas. However, these two are self-conscious about their appearance, believing they do not fit in. Unhelpful comments from other flowers in the shop amplify these emotions, causing Blossom and Bud to feel even worse. When the shopkeeper is tasked with creating a dynamic bouquet for a neighborhood party, though, the individual strengths of each flower are celebrated, helping Blossom and Bud recognize their worth.

The narrative of this book serves more as an introduction than being a fully developed story on its own. An extensive note to adult readers, or “florists” as the author calls them, follows the initial picture book and emphasizes the need for cultivating each child as one would a flower. In a world that places much attention on outward appearance, self-esteem challenges and bullying can be pervasive. The messages found in the second half of this book give adult caregivers some thoughts to consider both while having conversations with children about these issues and in modeling positive behavior.

Vibrant, colorful illustrations showcase the shop in which Blossom and Bud reside, including an assortment of both flowers and people. While the majority of characters are depicted with light skin, varied skin tones and ages are found in the story. Self-esteem can be a challenge at any age, and this book seeks to help caregivers navigate this complex reality with compassion and understanding. Practical tips are included to help children of all ages find joy in their own uniqueness throughout their lives. This is an important guide for anyone seeking to encourage positive self-esteem in children.

Thank you, NetGalley!

This is such a beautiful book. The illustrations and writing is very well-done.

To live in a flower-shop, among other plants of every size, shape and color!

Great introduction into loving yourself regardless of your own self-image. Great note to parents too about nurturing a positive body-image.

A perfectly reasonable – and very quick – look at characters that are unhappy with their body image. In a certain flower shop a sunflower is made to be worried about how tall and gangly it is compared to everything else around, while a young bud is terrified about how little it's grown. In the most economical way we see that there was still a most heart-warming benefit in them being the way they were. Two dense pages for the parents, guardians and educators about body image belie my comment about it being quick – but the core of the book the young audience will engage with is definitely snappy, and very pretty with these illustrations. The jury might be out in how the font joins in with portraying the colours and differences of the flowers, as this makes it less readable for some with reading ability issues, but on the whole this is definitely a success.

Good book with a deep meaning, no matter what you look like, be yourself, you're unique as you are. No matter what others say about you, don't doubt yourself.

Last illustrated page though, celebration day is over and all the flowers are thrown away? Maybe it's too much looking into things.