When Mr Yilmaz from next door dropped by with a daffodil bulb, little Tom wants to know what it is. A daffodil? Surely not. “That’s an onion,” says Tom.
When Mr Yilmaz plants the bulb in a terracotta pot, he promises a flower. So Tom waits. Nothing happens. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. That’s not a daffodil. “That’s a desert,” says Tom.
As the daffodil grows, so does Tom’s curiosity. As its green leaves begin to poke through the soil, Tom sees a green beak. As the leaves grow and spread, Tom sees five fat fingers. And what does Tom see when the flower is finally in full bloom?
It’s always a wonderful thing to witness the world through the eyes of a child. The way they view the world is ever charming, creative and . . . heartening.
Honey’s beautiful, textured illustrations perfectly complement a sweet and simple story showing a lovely slice of neighbourhood life that’s increasingly missing in our Western world.
[This review is dedicated to Tom.]
Title: That’s Not a Daffodil
Author/Illustrator: Elizabeth Honey
Publisher: A&U, $24.99
Publication Date: May 2011
ISBN: 9781742372488
Format: Hard cover
For ages: 3 - 8
Type: Picture Book
