Flower girls A story of sisters

Young Daisy, the narrator of this story by sisters and previous collaborators Weitzman and Glasser (Gloria's Promise), loves to admire older siblings Lily and Poppy from "my spot" in the family's yard. "They can do anything. I love to watch them," Daisy enthuses, as the older girls move with acrobatic confidence around the expansive, lushly detailed garden, where blossoms flourish in every corner. Exacting Lily and freewheeling Poppy already have their own patches to cultivate, where their distinct personalities are evident. It's finally time for Daisy to get a patch of her own--one that can be "just the way I want it to be." But Daisy's very different sisters share a similarly strong will, and the littlest sibling is soon overwhelmed by an insistent, exhausting stream of instructions and ideas. It takes a reality check to get the older girls to stop quarreling and help create the garden that Daisy wants--doing so "the Daisy way." Readers in any family dynamic will empathize with Daisy's realization that self-assertion can be a first step toward blossoming into whomever one is becoming. Characters are portrayed with pale skin. Ages 4--8. (May)

Sisters Weitzman and Glasser team up for a tale of individuality, acceptance, and sibling conflict. Narrator Daisy introduces her family: her parents, who grow and sell flowers, and her big sisters, Lily and Poppy. The older girls' distinctive personalities are reflected in their respective gardens. Lily's carefully bordered, ruler-perfect squares, manicured with scissors, evince her perfectionism. In chaotic contrast, Poppy's garden is a riot of her namesake scarlet flowers, ornaments, birdhouses, and a Rube Goldberg--esque device. (Poppy optimistically even plants hard candies.) Each sister gently critiques the other's style: Poppy suggests a trampoline for Lily's plot, and Lily encourages Poppy to be a bit more orderly. So far, little Daisy tends just one plant in a flowerpot, but today is the day she gets her own garden. Predictably, each sister wants Daisy's plot to reflect her own preferences. In an escalating contest, they go so far as to divide Daisy's plot between them. But Daisy knows that her garden needs to reflect her own identity. The writing provides effective characterization as the sisters' rival visions unfurl. Delicate drawings bloom with detail and color. The girls are light-skinned: Lily has long, neatly tied black hair, Poppy has spiky locks, and Daisy's short red curls stand out. A satisfying tale of sisterhood--and of a younger sibling who finds a way to shine.(Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.