A perfect springtime read, A Flower is a Friend by Frieda Wishinsky and Karen Patkau teaches readers about symbiotic relationships in the garden.

Spring is the time when we see flowers blooming in our gardens and also marks the return of our garden neighbours, the mice, insects, birds, etc. How do these small creatures help make our gardens beautiful and how do the flowers support the creatures? 

Frieda Wishinsky and Karen Patkau have infused their love of gardening into this beautiful expository literature non fiction book. The language is very simple with a simple sentence on each page for younger readers. For older readers, each two page spread presents them with a question. The questions are open ended and allow the reader to think and make inferences about the animals and the plants. The illustrations are perfect for finding clues to the answers. It’s a lovely example of how a book can grow with a reader.

Just so that the reader isn’t left hanging and having to run to other sources to answer the questions, there is excellent back matter at the end of the book, laid out in a more traditional non fiction way. There is information about each animal and readers will find the answers to the questions when reading more about each animal. I also love the quick reference guide at the back so that readers can flip to their favourite flowers. The very last two page spread of the narrative part of the book is a seek and find picture where readers can look for their favourite animals and flowers, just like they would in a real garden. A Flower is a Friend is a very immersive experience for the reader.

Karen Patkau’s illustrations are dreamy. They are reminiscent of a warm day out in the garden. Part photograph, part illustration and created digitally, they are full of colour and warmth and just what you would expect and hope for in a book about the garden.