January 15, 2025
Poor Alfred needs a friend. No one ever visits Alfred; he's sure it's because his yard is barren. He tries and fails to grow flowers like his friend Lulu, who receives a constant stream of visitors to her glorious garden. Dejected, Alfred decides to try one last time. He buys a seed packet, which he accidentally scatters all over himself with a big sneeze. He wallows sadly in the mud; when he's caught in the rain, the seeds inexplicably take root on him and immediately bloom, covering him in blossoms. So enflowered, he goes on his weekly errand to bring Lulu a blueberry muffin. She's delighted by Alfred's blooms and the sweet treat, but she assures him that she loves his visits, not because of the muffins, but because she enjoys spending time with him, and Alfred's heart lightens. Why didn't Alfred already know this after so many visits? Why doesn't Lulu help him with his garden? Such unresolved questions are more emotionally pressing than the puzzling mystery around the quick-blooming flowers that sprout from Alfred's person. The cartoon-style art doesn't clarify matters, though readers may enjoy playful details such as a Little Free Library in Lulu's yard, topiaries outside the store where Alfred purchases his seeds, and a yellow bird that follows him throughout the story. Alfred is tan-skinned, Lulu is lighter-skinned, and their community is diverse. Warmhearted but less than satisfying.(Picture book. 4-8)
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March 1, 2025
Grades K-2 Alfred lives at one end of the street, Lulu at the other. Lulu's yard is full of life, with plants and friends in abundance, while Alfred's muddy surroundings are less inviting. He tries to beautify his space but accidentally plants wildflowers all over himself. When he literally starts to bloom, the gouache, colored-pencil, and graphite illustrations humorously depict flowers sprouting from his hair and nose. Lulu welcomes and helps him, underscoring that it was Alfred who needed to accept himself all along rather than that others were rejecting him. The setting is fanciful, with Alfred's house shaped like mushrooms, but the feelings are realistic. Alfred is searching for beauty, kindness, and friendship. Lulu's warm environment is a reflection of her personal capacity. No family members are depicted, but the interpretation could be made that Alfred's circumstances are different from Lulu's based on the size of the houses and the state of the yards. Readers will empathize with Alfred's plight in this multilayered story and cheer him on as he grows from floundering to flourishing.
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