Kirjahaku

The Rare, Tiny Flower illustrates a deeply touching and thoughtful poem by Kitty O'Meara that, in the form of a parable, celebrates difference, tolerance, and unity. The poem features a mysterious flower that looks different to each viewer, which leads to strife as everyone insists that their vision is "right." Leaders and even botanists are unable to agree on the nature of the flower--it takes a young girl to point out that the flower is, in fact, quite multidimensional. Remarkably, she has the ability to be heard by the squabbling masses, who then see beyond their fighting and commit to connecting with one another. O'Meara's thoughtful poem begins with these words: Once, in a forest, a bird dropped a seed. It wasn't a sapling, it wasn't a weed, but a rare, tiny flower that found light and grew. To some it looked red, to some it looked blue.

What would you do if three giants came to your bedroom window one night and invited you to help them fix the world? In the tradition of classic journey stories in children's literature, this thoughtful, poignant bedtime story is an homage to the power of the imagination and significance of valuing one's dreams. Oliver, a young boy and budding artist, has had a rough day. His creativity has been challenged when students in the classroom tease his painting. That evening, three giants appear in Oliver's bedroom windows as he is drifting off to sleep. The giants convince Oliver to help them with their nighttime work of repairing the world. Oliver helps the giants with a long list of nighttime tasks, from brightening the moon to polishing the stars, from adjusting mountains to creating snowflakes, from planting seeds to calming the sea. As Oliver travels the planet and beyond with the Night Giants as an important part of their team, he learns to lead with his imagination and to value his dreams.