It’s Perfect Picture Book Friday and . . . my youngest’s birthday! 😊
So I’m sharing a book that celebrates May flowers and extraordinary girls 💐🌸🌟💕
Title: Bloom
Written By: Doreen Cronin
Illustrated By: David Small
Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, February 2016, Fiction
Suitable For Ages: 4-8
Themes/Topics: girl power, appreciation/gratitude, encouragement, believing in yourself
Opening: “Once upon a time, in a beautiful glass kingdom, there lived an unusual fairy named Bloom. Her boots were caked with mud. There was dirt between her teeth. Beetles rested in her wings. Bloom’s magic could spin sand into glass, turn weeds into blossoms, and grow a trickle of rainwater into a racing river. Bloom was a helpful creature, but her footsteps were HEAVY, and she left a trail of tiny cracks and mud wherever she went.”
Brief Synopsis: A glass kingdom is a tough place to be a Mud Fairy. Bloom and her mud fairy magic can turn weeds into flowers and spin sand into glass, but all the people of the kingdom do is complain about the trails of dirt and puddles of mud she leaves behind so, feeling unappreciated, she leaves. When the kingdom falls into disrepair, the King and Queen search out Bloom, but it takes the most “ordinary” girl in the kingdom to restore the magic.
Links To Resources: Here are some resources to get kids outdoors to celebrate earth and gardens. Plant A Family Butterfly Garden, Big Seeds For Little Hands, Information & Resources For Gardening With Children
Why I Like This Book: This story has the delightful “Once upon a time” opening that creates the delicious anticipation of a fairy tale about to unfold. Bloom is an unusual fairy – dirty, willing to work hard, not traditionally “girly”. Genevieve, the “ordinary” girl whose only job has been to polish the queen’s crystal sugar spoon has never had the opportunity to discover what she’s capable of. Working alongside Bloom, she learns that she is anything but ordinary and that she can save the kingdom. Favorite line: “Tell them there is no such thing as an ordinary girl!” said Bloom.
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Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!!! 😊🌷
A very happy birthday to my daughter and a very happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers out there 💕💐💕🐣
Susanna Leonard Hill 
Susanna, I remember this one. What a great book for your daughter’s birthday. I hope she has a great quaranbration! Thanks for reminding me of this book.
Happy Mother’s Day! What a perfect choice.
I love Bloom! What a perfect choice to celebrate your daughter’s spring birthday. I hope you can celebrate together – in person or virtually.
Mom is excited and relieved that there is no such thing as an ordinary girl! She would not like to be called ordinary. I, on the other hand would LOVE to be a Mud Fairy. I kind-of am already. That’s probably why Mom says, “GAH! The mud. Why the mud?” every day on our walks.
Love and licks,
Cupcake
Fairies and a little bit of magic…just what we need to put a bit of sparkle into our lives! Lovely choice, Susanna…I don’t know this book, so I am happy for the introduction!
Happy Mother’s Day to you, sweet friend…and to all the other mothers in kidlitland.
Happy birthday to your youngest. I must find this book! I am sitting here staring at a skull I found on a walk, listening to a webinar on soil, and thinking about my garden.
I see fairies in many places. There is a little mound in the woods behind our house that is land to the fairies. It is filled with plants and mosses and the light is incredibly special.
Happy birthday! Thanks for sharing this fun fairy tale!
Happy Birthday to your daughter!
What a delightful book! Thanks for all the hard work you to do keep Perfect Picture Books up and running. Wishing you a lovely Mother’s Day!
what a marvelous way to celebrate May – with mud! and Fairies!
What a perfect book, Susanna! This one must go to my niece, who bears and uncanny resemblance to Bloom. Happy birthday to your own extraordinary girl!
Susanna – this is lovely! I am surprised I haven’t heard of this gem before. It’s on my “to read” list now.
Happy Birthday to your youngest and I hope your May is blooming along in lovely ways.
BLOOM is such an imaginative fairytale with a wonderful message. I love it! Happiest of birthdays to your youngest!
What a wonderful protagonist. She is gutsy and remains true to herself. I love this tale!
Happy birthday to your not-so-little one!