Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Not unlike Strega Nona, an elderly woman named Celia brings magic to the town in which she lives. Celia's magic is that she listens. On Sundays, she perches somberly on a stool while citizens queue up to speak with her: "She listened to the little problems, to the big problems.... She listened to every worry, every sorrow, everything that the people had to say." In exchange, the people give Celia small seeds-initially, they are the only source of color in Augusseau's delicate pencil illustrations-that she uses to create even more magic. She changes some seeds to big red and orange balloons that make children jump for joy; others become fields of flowers or frosting for cakes and cookies. The heart of Vallat's story revolves around a boy who loses his seed; Celia finds it and takes him under her wing. The scenes of the two of them carefully watering his seed and chatting over tea present deeply tender images of intergenerational friendship, and it's clear that he brings her as much happiness as she does him. Ages 4-8. (Mar.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-This is a beautiful story about a wise old woman who listens to the sadnesses of many neighbors. In return, the people give her seeds of sorrow, which she turns into beautiful balloons, frosted cupcakes, flowers on a hill, sparkling stars, and apples on a tree. On her journey to plant beauty, she discovers a lost seed and learns that it belongs to an unhappy child named Julian. Together they plant it, and over time, the seed grows into a tiny flower. Julian learns not only about the joy of watching his seed grow into a flower but also about the happiness he finds in nurturing the plants with his new friend Celia. This story offers the power of kindness, the magic of transformation, and the unique tale of how beauty can be found in happiness through the seed of sadness. Double-page spreads drawn in black and white and the use of bright color bubbles set the mood effectively. The drawings are rendered in acrylic, gouache, watercolor, and ink.-Melissa Smith, Royal Oak Public Library, MI (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Folks share their concerns with town listener Celia in exchange for seeds, which she spreads--"...and poof! They became beautiful balloons!" (or colored frosting, wildflowers, etc.). When a little boy loses his seed, he is sad until the woman locates it. The bighearted story's coping message is subtle, and shaded black-and-white drawings with well-executed bursts of color are splendidly uplifting. (c) Copyright 2014. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Celia is a listener. Every Sunday, people line up to tell the old woman their problems, and in exchange for her kind service, they each give her a seed. However, this is no gardening tale. One Sunday, a boy named Julian is in line, but somehow, he's lost his seed. With no seed to give Celia, he's stuck feeling sad. As on every Monday, Celia collects her seeds in a wheelbarrow and sets out on her route. In town, she blows on a few seeds that immediately become beautiful balloons. She tosses some seeds into the bakery, and they colorfully frost all the cupcakes. In the countryside, she throws some in the air, and they become apples on a tree. Late that night, her seeds become stars. On her way home, she finds Julian's seed and then Julian himself. She takes him home and helps him plant his seed in a flowerpot. Over time, of course, the seed blossoms into a flower, and Julian's heart is filled with happiness. The cover gives a clue to the yin-yang of the artwork, which salvages this quirky import from Belgium. Aside from a few rosy cheeks, the only colors are the eruptions of the seeds into vivid hues, contrasting sharply against the sketchily drawn figures in black and white. Imaginative? Yes. Metaphoric? Yes. Broadly appealing? Probably not, but readers who do respond will probably think it's too bad there aren't any real Celias in the world. (Picture book. 4-6)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
