Sidewalk Flowers - JonArno Lawson & Sydney Smith

In this wordless picture book, a little girl collects wildflowers while her distracted father pays her little attention. Each flower becomes a gift, and whether the gift is noticed or ignored, both giver and recipient are transformed by their encounter. 

"Written" by award-winning poet JonArno Lawson and brought to life by illustrator Sydney Smith, Sidewalk Flowers is an ode to the importance of small things, small people, and small gestures.

Lawson and Smith's book is gorgeous. I can't even fully describe how it makes me feel. This beautiful story "written" by JonAarno Lawson--I say "written" because this is, after all, a completely wordless picture book--and illustrated by Syndey Smith reminds readers (both adult and child alike) to slow down and "smell the roses." While there are components of little red riding hood sewn into the overall narrative--the little girl is the most obvious character in the story due to her red hoodie--the story itself is quiet and reflective, giving readers much to consider on multiple levels.

The art itself is beautifully rendered in mostly black and white, with nature and other similarly themed items (and the little girl, as an exception) being the only parts rendered in full colour. The narrative, though simple, does contain a strong message of appreciation of the natural world and the slower parts of life. As the narrative continues forward, colours become more prominent in other aspects of the story, aside from the young girl. Though wordless, Lawson's poetic storytelling is evident and will be appreciated by readers/viewers at many different comprehension levels.

I Highly Recommend this book for everyone.

Absolutely gorgeous!!