Synopsis
Aunt Zinnia and Lucy spend their days in a magical garden filled with dragonflies, butterflies, and all manner of lush, beautiful flowers. But how did these flowers ever come to be? Curious Lucy wants to know, so she plants seeds in little pots and waits for them to grow. Of course, in her quest to learn the flowers' secret, Lucy also must learn patience.
Depicting the enchantment of nature through full-color illustrations, award-winning author Mireille Levert tells a tale sure to motivate young children to try Lucy's experiment for themselves - and to learn from their own experience that plants need time to grow.
Rihoko Ueno - Children's Literature
Lucy is enthralled by Anna Zinnia's beautiful garden that is full of light, animals, insects and many, many plants. Anna Zinnia, whose personality is as vibrant as her garden, decides to show Lucy the secret of how seeds turn into flowers. It takes a nice place in the soil, water, sunshine and oodles of time but Lucy waits—and waits. When the transformation takes place, Lucy is doubly rewarded: she has learned to grow plants and gained patience in the process. The story is sweet and the dialogue between Lucy and Anna is amusing, but the illustrations, which are whimsical and colorful, are even better. The picture book starts with the lines, "The gate is open. Anna Zinnia's smile calls, 'Come In.'" This feeling of welcome continues throughout this warm and gentle book. Readers of all ages with enter this story without hesitation and will leave with the desire to come back again. 2004, Groundwood Books/Douglas & McIntyre, Ages 5 to 7.