Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Ava's Poppy
Picture Book
For ages 5 to 7
NorthSouth, 2012 ISBN: 978-0735840577
Every morning, Ava walks across the field in front of her house, and one day she finds a lone red poppy growing amongst the blades of grass. Ava starts visiting the poppy every day, and she grows very fond of it. When a cold wind blows, Ava protects the flower from the gusts, and when is gets very dry, Ava fills up a watering can and waters the poppy.
Then one day Ava sees that the friend that she has cared for has lost its petals. For a while the rest of the plant stays green, but then that too dries out and turns brown. Poor unhappy Ava digs a hole and gently lays the dead plant inside it. She puts a circle of stones around the little grave so that she will always know where her friend once stood. All she has now are her memories of the poppy. Or maybe not.
In this simple but memorable picture book, Marcus Pfister (the creator of the Rainbow Fish books) shows little children that living things cannot last forever, no matter how much we want them to. Though this could be a sad story, the author finds a way to end the tale on a high note that is full of hope.
