School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-Flying above a green meadow, Sparrow spots a lone dandelion crying in the tall grass. It seems that Dandelion hasn't long to live and wishes only to be remembered before she is gone. Once strong and yellow, she is now only white fuzz and seed pods. Together, Sparrow and Dandelion hatch a plan to write her story in the dirt so that all who pass by can read about her life. Sparrow gladly writes about her life and everything she loved while growing in the meadow. They make plans to continue her story the next day, but a terrible thunderstorm prevents Dandelion from being able to share her memories with Sparrow. A sad Sparrow vows to tell her story to all who will listen, but weeks, he later finds a surprise in the meadow that assures him that his friend will be remembered for a long time. This is an agreeable choice for adults to gently introduce children to the cycle of life. Warm, hazy watercolors and colored pencil render a beautiful meadow and convey the range of emotions. The dialogue between Sparrow and Dandelion is a tad too formal to engage younger readers and will most likely not inspire multiple readings. The book is lovely in message but might just be more purposeful than popular.-Carol Connor, Cincinnati Public Schools, OH (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
The character who dies in newcomer Sheehan's story is a lowly dandelion, but doesn't make her demise any easier to take. The dandelion, once golden, has just 10 white hairs left, and her last wish is to be remembered. A friendly sparrow spends hours scratching down her stories in the dirt: "She spoke of milkweed and hummingbirds; of dancing butterflies and picnicking families; of busy ants and busier bees." A storm ends the dandelion's life and washes away the stories, but Sparrow remembers them. When the bird discovers a new patch of 10 dandelions, he can tell them about their mother. Dunlavey, also making his debut, contributes softly brushed illustrations in watercolor, crayon, pencil, and other media that mix two equally handsome visual vocabularies. The world of Sparrow and the dandelion appears in objective greens and browns, while the dandelion's past life is rendered in sun-bleached golds, limes, and pinks, faded brilliance just right for cherished memories. The focus on death and commemoration makes this the kind of fable that may find the warmest reception among adults. Ages 3-7. Author's agent: Louise Fury, the Bent Agency. Illustrator's agent: Elena Giovinazzo, Pippin Properties. (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
