Millie Fleur's Poison Garden by Christy MandinMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
By: Christy Mandin
Orchard Books 2024
Jacket/ Marketing Synopsis:
Everything in Garden Glen was exactly the same. That is, until Millie Fleur La Fay came to town. With a curious collection of peculiar plants, Millie Fleur creates her unusual garden.
She thinks its marvelous. The townspeople call it poison.
Can Millie Fleur find kindred spirits who appraise everything h er garden has to offer?
Millie Fleur’s Poison Garden reminds us all to celebrate what makes us wonderfully weird!
Vid:
About the Author
Christy Mandin is the author and illustrator of multiple picture books. She’s grown many interesting plants in her garden over the years but, so far, none with teeth or tentacles. She currently lives in Georgia with her husband and four children. Visit Christy online at christymandin.com
Concepts/Lessons
Be yourself and find your tribe. You are allowed to like what you like and there are others out there who will like it and like you for who you are.
Review:
The Art
I’m always impressed by any one who can write a full story and draw the illustrations to it. But like most A/I books lot of the story is told through pictures. Signs and body language do a lot of work in this story and it does slow down the reading when the little listener can’t read. But the art is rich in detail and captivating so even the kiddos who can't read the words find a lot of fun in exploring Millie's garden.
My favorite spread is the one featuring the neighbors verses the Fleur’s family. It shows that is supported by her mom and pet frog. As a mom it's exhausting how much media is kid against their own parent(s). So it's great to see something Mom supports her child against society for a change.
What I Loved
The solution to the problem. I enjoy that Millie gets supports from her mother at the start. But I love how instead of someone having to come to her rescue - like in other stories like this - Millie opened her garden to her class and her school and they showed themselves to be quality people. They were scared and curious but they weren’t mean and nasty.
Millie even embraces the term “poison garden” because it’s good marketing and that thrills me.
I love the names of the plants - again telling story heavy in illustration. I think the “Yaga Bush” is my favorite ^^
What I Liked:
The names of the plants. The support from her mother! Though it could have been a bit stronger, I still like that her mother wasn’t apologizing for the town, or taking their side. She encouraged her daughter to be herself and do what she does as long as it’s making her happy and I support that message.
Dislikes:
A bit on the nose - Tim Burton - cliche’. But it wouldn’t be so for young readers are aren’t familiar with those properties. Just as a parent reading it I’m like blah. Been there done that.
However the solution was a unique one. And I did enjoy that change of pace.
Conclusion:
A bit cliche’ but human hammers trying to bang in new nails is a tale as old as civilization. I love the solution of this story and I think it’s an important lesson for kiddos to take in - that they are allowed to like what they like
If you’re interested in this book please use my Amazon Associates Link to the give it try:
Hope to see you on the Next Page
View all my reviews