A Flower is a Friend by Frieda Wishinsky, illustrated by Karen Patkau. Pajama Press, 978-1-77278-280-6
Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 5
Format: Hardcover picture book
What did you like about the book? This stunningly beautiful picture book tells of the relationship between a selection of flowers and some of their pollinators and ‘friends.’ Birds and bugs help the flowers and flowers in turn help the creatures to survive and thrive.
We learn how ladybugs eat aphids from plants which keeps the plants alive and healthy. Hummingbirds draw nectar from plants with long tubular flowers and collect pollen on their bodies which will drop onto the next flower the hummingbird visits. Frogs like to live among waterlilies for protection and it’s a good place to lay their eggs.
The interconnectedness of nature is explained in easy-to-understand descriptions and the colorful illustrations of familiar and not-so-familiar flowers are beautiful to look at.
Included in the back are explanations for all the flowers and their ‘friends’ and even an index.
Anything you didn’t like about it? No
To whom would you recommend this book? Readers who enjoy or want to learn more about nature and gardening will love this book.
Who should buy this book? Pre-schools, day-cares, and public libraries will want to get this book.
Where would you shelve it? Non-fiction picture books, great to use in a display for spring or summer
Should we (librarians/readers) put this on the top of our “to read” piles? Yes
Reviewer’s Name, Library (or school), City and State: Maria Touet, Malden Catholic High School, Malden, MA
Date of review: April 16, 2023
Youth Services Book Review 
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