You Are a Little Seed

Description

For green thumbs and giftgivers alike, this lyrical story expresses how seeds—like children—can blossom despite the odds.

Discover seven different flowers that blossom from seven different kinds of seeds—each resilient in their own way as they take root. This heartfelt story serves as a metaphor for the strength in seeds—and humans—and the beauty and diversity in flowers, or the people we blossom into.Growing flowers symbolize children’s development in this South Korean import.
A young child holding on to a dandelion seed drifts along (“A seed, a seed blowing in the wind…”). The next page shows the kid wearing the same yellow dress but now older, firmly grasping a flower that “took root in the wild and bloomed as a dandelion.” The book continues similarly; each tot is compared to a different seed and eventually blooms in their unique way, much like their comparative blossom. Another youngster sits in a star-shaped pod, staring uncertainly (“A seed, a seed crouching down low…”). The next page shows the child, older and confidently smiling (“raised its head proudly and bloomed as a peony”). A forlorn little one described as “delicate to the touch” develops into a “balsam that never gave way to scorching sun or pouring rain.” Eventually readers are told that they, too, are seeds; Choi asks them what kind of bloom they will be. The lyrical text pairs well with the realistic portrayals of flowers and the charming cartoon depictions of the kids. Warm colors fill the pages, from autumnal browns to springlike pinks. The only questionable moment is when the author describes a seed as “ugly and wrinkled”; readers may raise an eyebrow at the idea of referring to a child as physically unattractive.
An encouraging tale of growth.

—Kirkus Reviews

First published in Korean, this translated picture book uses bright illustrations and simple, flowing language to convey the resilience and potential within every child. Some seeds are shy, others have thorns, but they develop into proud peonies and elegant island flowers; the seeds and plants are paired with illustrations of children growing up. Full-page, close-up illustrations display the varied colors and patterns of the flowers and plants, as well as the diverse personalities of the children who embody them.

—Foreword ReviewsSook-Hee Choi studied industrial design at Seoul National University and has worked as picture book author and illustrator for more than twenty years. Her titles include To My Child, The Magic Soup, and Tree of Mine. She was selected as the Illustrator of the Year at Bologna Children’s Book Fair for The Picture Map of the World, and was also invited to the Artist of the Year ceremony at the Internationella Bilioteket in Sweden for A Child of the Heaven and the Earth.CN

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