Dandy

January 28, 2019
It’s love vs. lawn care in this laugh-out-loud story by Dyckman (Wolfie the Bunny). When a lone dandelion appears in a lion father’s front yard, he’s determined to remove it. There’s just one problem: his daughter, Sweetie, has gotten there first. “Her name is Charlotte,” she says, patting the bloom. “She’s my best friend.” Egged on by friends and neighbors, Daddy hilariously tries to fell the weed with nunchakus, a jackhammer, a cannon, and more, but Sweetie foils his efforts at every turn. He finally has a clear shot when Sweetie heads to swim class, then realizes he can’t go through with it. It seems the weed will live—that is, until Daddy drops his shears, mangling it beyond repair. When the cub returns and discovers her drooping friend, her father shows Sweetie how to blow dandelion seeds around the yard, “dandy” consequences or no. Layered with handmade pencil textures, digital illustrations by Santoso (Wishtree) play up the drama of Daddy’s outsize emotions and outrageous attempts to expel the dandelion. A well-paced comic tale for all ages. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Scott Treimel, Scott Treimel New York. Illustrator’s agent: Justin Rucker, Shannon Assoc.

April 1, 2019
In the war against weeds, there's no match for a father's love. The front endpapers paint the setting perfectly: a suburban street of neat houses with lawns and shrubs manicured to within an inch of their lives, the adult caretakers grooming them while their children play. A turn of the page, and Daddy is reacting with consternation as he spies "something scary on his perfect lawn." He's too late, though: His daughter, Sweetie, has adopted the weed--sorry, flower--as her best friend, "Charlotte." "Daddy hoped his friends wouldn't notice." But they do. And they pressure Daddy to take care of the weed that threatens the whole species-diverse neighborhood. But though he tries numerous times ("book time," naptime) and in numerous ways (shovel, mower), Sweetie is somehow "always there" with Charlotte. The neighbors add more pressure; Daddy's tactics grow wilder. And then Sweetie leaves for swim lessons: the perfect opportunity. But Daddy chokes. When something is suddenly "WRONG" with Charlotte, Daddy looks into his daughter's teary eyes and knows what he must do. And the rear endpapers show that the neighborhood tough-guy talk was just that, the fathers now joining their children in their play, dots of yellow on their lawns. The digital illustrations are a riot, both Daddy's obsession and Sweetie's sweetness and innocence coming through loud and clear. Hopefully this will spread around suburban neighborhood families just like Charlotte's seeds. (Picture book. 4-8)

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June 7, 2019

PreS-Gr 2-Daddy Lion is appalled by something scary protruding from his front lawn, a sentiment his daughter, Sweetie, does not share. On the contrary, the dire weed growing in his yard is Sweetie's best flower friend, Charlotte. Daddy's friends urge him to act immediately: "A WEED. IT'LL TAKE OVER THE YARD! THE NEIGHBORHOOD! THE UNIVERSE!" Shovel in hand, jackhammer, cannon, clippers, even scabbard... nothing "executes" the job, when Sweetie persistently shows up to foil his attempts. Ultimately, the Dandelion that emerges multiplies into Charlotte Two, Three, Four, and more. Dyckman's heartwarming, hilarious tale is flawlessly matched with Santoso's vivid digital illustrations. The animal expressions are riotously priceless: Daddy Lion's toothy astonishment when he spots the lone weed violating his lawn, the giraffe's fierce glare of contempt, a bespectacled monkey's astonished outcry as his hands are raised frantically in the air. Feelings change to tearful wails (Sweetie's weepy face is tragically endearing) as they all join in to surgically revive/resuscitate Charlotte after a pair of shears accidentally land on her. This story is a wonderful celebration about the abiding love of fathers suitable for Father's Day, in addition to a tale about springtime growth and renewal best shared when flowers begin to bloom. A focus on whether a dandelion is truly a weed or not should be discussed if part of a discussion about spring and planting. VERDICT A funny and inspiring read-aloud choice. Recommended for wide purchase.-Etta Anton, Yeshiva of Central Queens, NY

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