Little Dandelion Seeds the World

January 15, 2021
Dandelion seeds travel the world. The story opens on an urban scene (possibly Cape Town) of a Black child whimsically blowing a dandelion, one fluffy seed floating "far, far away" to an undisclosed African plain. The book continues to describe the manner in which the seeds travel with the repeated refrain "swish, swirl, one hundred seeds fly." The seeds are carried far and wide: one on the ear of a cheetah, another hitchhiking on a pant leg across the sea, a third in a bird's droppings. The Howdeshells' art is vibrant and engaging, taking care to include a diverse array of human racial presentations and details that establish each setting, the textured images focusing on indigenous fauna as the seeds fly. Of particular note is the lovely cover depicting a Black girl with natural hair. The seeds travel to Asia, Australia, North America, South America, and Europe. The entire globe is covered, including Antarctica, stretching a bit to match the conceit. An author's note claims that "even chilly Antarctica has dandelions on the shoreline of South Georgia Island" as evidence for the plant's reach to all seven continents. Whether South Georgia Island is part of Antarctica is arguable; it's too bad the book makes this bland assertion. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by-18-inch double-page spreads viewed at 20.8% of actual size.) A cool concept a tad undermined by geographical overreach. (Picture book. 3-6)

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