Oh the dandelion. There was debate even when I did this in a storytime of whether or not a dandelion was a flower.....or was it a weed? Believe it or not, Kindergarten kids have very strong opinions.

So does Charlotte in our book. A dandelion has crept into her dad's perfectly manicured lawn. He is determined to get rid of it at ALL costs. But Charlotte is already around. She won't let anything happen to it. So one day, when Charlotte is gone...........

This book is delightful and sweet. ( )

Independent Reading Level: 1st-2nd GradeWinner of the 2020 Redbud Awards: Read-Aloud Book Award
A 2020 ILA-CBC Children's Choice Book
A 2020-2021 Florida SSYRA Jr. Book
A 2021-2022 Nebraska Golden Sower Award Finalist
Winner of the Missouri Building Block Picture Book Award
A 2021-2022 Pennsylvania Young Readers Choice Award Nominee

Dandy is a great picture book for ages 4-8. This is a funny story about Charlotte, an actual dandelion flower in Daddy's garden. Sweetie, Daddy's daughter, named the flower Charlotte. He is wanting to mow down Charlotte in his perfectly manicured lawn, but does not want to upset Sweetie. So he has to find a move to move Charlotte from his lawn without killing her! Cute and very age appropriate picture book. ( )

For all those who love dandelions and wild areas, who abhor the constant, destructive mowing of suburban life, and the sterile lifelessness of lawns... and for everyone who wants a funny story, here it is.

The endpages and title page show a carefully tended suburban neighborhood, not a leaf or tree out of place. The story opens with Daddy lion, looking happily through his window... until he sees "something scary." But when he arrives with the clippers at the terrible dandelion, Sweetie, his little girl, has gotten there first and is watering her flower. Named Charlotte. Her new best friend. The game's afoot and Daddy, urged on by neighbors peering over the hedge, tries everything he can to destroy the hated "weed" but every time Sweetie innocently stymies him. He "gets serious" with disguises, from ninja to pirate, but nothing works. Until Sweetie goes off to swim practice. Then there's no one to stop him from destroying that weed, complete in lawn-grinding lawnmower with spikes and flames! Or is there? Peace is finally declared, and the lawn war ends. For now...

Verdict: This is hilarious and also might give just a few hints to those a little too obsessed with their lawns!

ISBN: 9780316362955; Published April 2019 by Little Brown; Borrowed from another library in my consortium; Purchased for the library

Simply adorable. Not only is this irresistible to fathers like me who have a daughter (now grown, but still!), but I can totally use it to justify the presence of the dandelions currently popping up on my lawn. Win win! ( )