In today's information era, in which social media, television and advertising can speak louder than words, communicating a positive message to your children about self-worth and the importance of being unique is invaluable.
New children's book, The Dandelion Who Refused to be a Weed, by author Ann, communicates just that.
Based on the author's own experience of working in the financial sector of the City of London, the story teaches children through a dandelion character, Dolores, a message of self-acceptance and worth.
Through images, wordplay and upbeat phrases: "We may be just weeds... But we will always have our very special uses!", children are reminded that every person is valuable and unique.
The simple storyline, in which Dolores saves a group of dandelions from a rainstorm with her large petals, is suitable for a young child to follow, whilst the striking images clearly mark the plot for children who may not yet be at the story's reading level.
The overall message of acceptance would be a great conversation-starter for parents and teachers about what makes people unique and valuable, and may be a useful tool for a child who has a disability or has been bullied.
"Lovable characters"
The book contains vibrant artwork designed by the author herself; the pictures are bold and colourful, yet they are slightly too digital in appearance for my taste, and leave more than an ideal amount of white space on the pages.
Some children are more engaged by tonal images with background colour than the digital images within this book, yet the characters themselves are lovable and stand out from the page, which children of all levels will appreciate.
In all, though the images may not be exactly to my taste, the book itself holds an incredibly valuable message that would be worth instilling to children of younger ages; the core takeaway, that every child is valuable, along with the simple storyline, is accessible for early readers and a choice addition to any parent's bookshelf.
Published as an eBook in December 2014, the story is now available as a paperback, making it a perfect stocking-filler for the little ones at Christmas.
Essential details
Author: Words and design by Ann, pictures by Andrew Summer
Print length: 32 pages
Published: November 26, 2014
Reading level: Ages two to six
Publisher: Matador
Where to buy: You can pick up a copy on Amazon, or through special order at bookshops such as Waterstones.
Are you a book lover? Why not visit one of these great literary hangouts all over west London?
