The Language of Flowers

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Pub Date Sep 10 2024 | Archive Date Oct 02 2024
Publisher Spotlight | Lantana Publishing

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Description

Juhi learns the language of flowers while helping her Appa in his flower shop. Can she draw on this knowledge to express her grief when her favorite customer passes away?

Juhi loves helping her Appa sell flowers to the local community. In Appa's flower shop, Juhi knows the language of love—lilies for affection, irises for hugs and kisses. She knows the language of faith—frangipani for full moon days, red hibiscus for the temple. She knows the language of celebration—daffodils for the newborn, peonies for a birthday cake. But when her Appa tells her that her favorite customer has passed away, she does not know the language of grief. While Appa makes a bouquet of lilies and orchids to bring to Mr. Potter's funeral, Juhi decides to make him one final bouquet of her own. Which flowers will she choose to remember a man who was always so full of life?

Juhi learns the language of flowers while helping her Appa in his flower shop. Can she draw on this knowledge to express her grief when her favorite customer passes away?

Juhi loves helping her Appa...


Advance Praise

"Smith's spare but graceful prose is brought to life by Asis' vibrant artwork. Flowers and people alike pop against white backdrops; visible brushstrokes imbue the tale with intimacy. Juhi's ability to communicate complex emotions in nonverbal ways is a joy to behold. It's especially refreshing to read a story about a South Asian girl whose ethnic identity informs but doesn't determine her story. Mr. Potter presents white; Juhi's community is diverse. A touching tale of love, community, and expression."- Kirkus Reviews (7/1/24)

"Smith's spare but graceful prose is brought to life by Asis' vibrant artwork. Flowers and people alike pop against white backdrops; visible brushstrokes imbue the tale with intimacy. Juhi's ability...


Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9781915244864
PRICE $18.99 (USD)
PAGES 32

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Average rating from 11 members


Featured Reviews

I loved this look at flowers and how different flowers have different meanings. Juhi loves working in her family shop and providing flowers for everyone for all the different occasions arise. But when Mr. Porter, a regular dies, she isn't sure about only presenting white flowers at his funeral. What a beautiful book to look at grief and help children process it.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

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Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this advance readers copy in exchange for my honest feedback. A little girl named Juhi worked in her dads flower shop and while working there she learned that flowers can be expression of good times and sad times. When she learned that her favorite customer had passed she decided to make his grieving wife a beautiful bright arrangement that symbolized his many travels through the world. This book was beautiful in story and pictures.

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Juhi enjoys helping her father in their flower shop, and normally she knows precisely which flowers people want or need; flowers for celebrating, flowers for love, flowers for faith. But when an unexpected death comes to a favorite customer, Juhi navigates a new knowledge: flowers for grief. In her own unique way, she finds a colorful way to pay tribute to someone well-loved.

This is such a sweet book, and the illustrations are so vibrant and pretty! I loved it.

(Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review!)

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The Language of Flowers by Shyala Smith is such a touching, precious story of a child's compassion.

Juhi and her father Abba own a flower shop and his daughter Juhi loves flowers and the shop immensely. One of her favorite customers and a neighbor Mr. Potter comes into the shop often and is cheery and talks about flowers he has known through his travels and through flowers Juhi gets to know Mr. Potter and his travels.

Since flowers can represent so much when Mr. Potter falls ill and passes away her father makes a beautiful and huge all-white flower arrangement. But Juhi makes Mr. Potter a garland of his favorite colorful flowers and presents it to Mrs. Potter who is very touched.

Throughout the book, beautiful watercolors illustrate the language of flowers and the culture of Juhi. Lovely addition to the meaning of flowers.

I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher Lantana Publishering for the opportunity to read and review The Language of Flowers by Shyala Smith.

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Thank you Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. These opinions are completely my own

I believe the meaning of flowers is such a lost art in North America, the language of the flower is such a beautiful thing and I hope it makes a comeback. This book invited children (and their adults) to learn the meaning behind their favorite flower

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The color scheme of this book was beautiful. I love how it explained how different flowers were suitable for different occasions in their culture and why.

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This is a very sweet simple book about friendship and moving through loss. The illustrations are beautiful and bold. I appreciate that it has a cultural feel related to the meanings of flowers. It also reminds me of the importance of small kind gestures in helping a good friend.

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Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ebook copy of this upcoming picture book, The Language of Flowers by Shyala Smith.

Juhi helps in the family flower shop and looks forward to greeting customers and helping them choose flowers that are best suited for the occasions and feelings they want to convey. Flowers have always had special meanings and Juhi shares her expertise with the readers. Shyala Smith leans into the role of a small business shop keeper and the role that they play in a community. Juhi notices that one of her favorite customers isn't visiting the shop anymore. She learns that he is sick and eventually dies later on in the text.

This book covers grief and wonder, community and neighborly love. Juhi and her father create beautiful bouquets that showcase the language of grief but also the language of life.

The illustrations are stunning and leave us lingering on the page even though we have finished reading the words on the page, there is so much to absorb without being overwhelming. Since reading this book, my kids are very invested in playing flower shop and I am very glad to keep sharing the story that Shyala Smith has created.

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The Language of Flowers by Shyala Smith is the gentle story of a little girl named Juhi who works in her father's flower shop. There he teaches her the countless messages that can be sent with bouquets, messages of love, celebration, and friendship. One of Juhi's best friends is an elderly neighbor Mr. Potter who visits the shop often and shares stories of his many travels. When Juhi learns of Mr. Potter's passing she strives to create a flower creation to share with Mrs. Potter that will honor the remembrance of her dear friend. This text of the book is told in simple and comforting language. The illustrations are reminiscent of watercolors and capture both the warmth of the relationships and the vibrancy of the flowers.

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