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Sei un fiore blu
I lay down and put my nose in the grass. The grass was dotted with yellow flowers, but blue ones grew there too. I rolled over and looked at the trees and the clouds, and thought about things for a while. ‘Not all clouds are white,’ I said, and Piccolo looked at me. ‘Not all trees are tall. Not all birds are brown. Not all cats are tabby like you, Piccolo. Some are black. Some are orange. Some are calico.’ Piccolo swished his stripy tail. I plucked a flower and showed it to him. ‘This flower isn’t yellow, but it isn’t wrong. It is what it’s supposed to be. No one would want it to be yellow. Everyone would say it’s lovely just the way it is.’
A young child describes her qualms about going to school and how hard she finds asking the teacher for help, how she feels shy about making friends, not being funny or a fast runner. But through her love of art, a conversation with her mother and her observations about nature she comes to see that being different might not be a bad thing after all.
A beautifully told picture book about self esteem, resilience and the discovery that being different can be something wonderful. From award-winning author Sonya Hartnett, with stunning illustrations by Gabriel Evans.
A young child describes her qualms about going to school and how hard she finds asking the teacher for help, how she feels shy about making friends, not being funny or a fast runner. But through her love of art, a conversation with her mother and her observations about nature she comes to see that being different might not be a bad thing after all.
A beautifully told picture book about self esteem, resilience and the discovery that being different can be something wonderful. From award-winning author Sonya Hartnett, with stunning illustrations by Gabriel Evans.
- GenresPicture BooksChildrens
41 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 2, 2021
50 people want to read
About the author
Sonya Hartnett
41 books310 followersSonya Hartnett (also works under the pseudonym Cameron S. Redfern) is, or was, something of an Australian child prodigy author. She wrote her first novel at the age of thirteen, and had it published at fifteen. Her books have also been published in Europe and North America. Her novels have been published traditionally as young adult fiction, but her writing often crosses the divide and is also enjoyed by adults.
"I chose to narrate the story through a child because people like children, they WANT to like them," says Sonya Hartnett of THURSDAY'S CHILD, her brilliantly original coming-of-age story set during the Great Depression. "Harper [the young narrator] is the reason you get sucked into the characters. Even I, who like to distance myself from my characters, felt protective of her."
The acclaimed author of several award-winning young adult novels--the first written when she was just 13--Australian native Sonya Hartnett says she wrote THURSDAY'S CHILD in a mere three months. "It just pulled itself together," she says. "I'd wanted to set a story in the Depression for some time, in an isolated community that was strongly supportive. Once the dual ideas of the boy who tunneled and the young girl as narrator gelled, it almost wrote itself--I had the cast, I had the setting, I just said 'go.' " Accustomed to writing about edgy young adult characters, Sonya Hartnett says that identifying with a seven-year-old protagonist was a challenge at first. "I found her difficult to approach," she admits. "I'm not really used to children. But once I started, I found you could have fun with her: she could tell lies, she could deny the truth." Whereas most children know "only what adults want them to know," the author discovered she could bypass that limitation by "turning Harper into an eavesdropper and giving her older siblings to reveal realities."
In her second book with Candlewick Press, WHAT THE BIRDS SEE, Sonya Hartnett once again creates a portrait of childhood. This time the subject is Adrian, a nine-year-old boy living in the suburbs with his gran and Uncle. For Adrian, childhood is shaped by fear: his dread of quicksand, shopping centers, and self-combustion. Then one day, three neighborhood children vanish--an incident based on a real case in Australia in the 1960s--and Adrian comes to see just how tenuous his safety net is. In speaking about Adrian, the author provocatively reveals parallels between herself and her character. She says, "Adrian is me in many respects, and many of the things that happen to him happened to me."
Sonya Hartnett's consistently inspired writing has built her a legion of devotees. Of THURSDAY'S CHILD, Newbery Honor-winning author Carolyn Coman says, "Hartnett's beautifully rendered vision drew me in from the very start and carried me along, above and under ground, to the very end. This book amazed me." The achingly beautiful WHAT THE BIRDS SEE has just as quickly garnered critical acclaim. Notes PUBLISHERS WEEKLY in a starred review, "Hartnett again captures the ineffable fragility of childhood in this keenly observed tale. . . . Sophisticated readers will appreciate the work's acuity and poetic integrity." Sonya Hartnett's third young adult novel, STRIPES OF THE SIDESTEP WOLF was named an American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults.
Sonya Hartnett lives near Melbourne, Australia. Her most recent novels are SURRENDER, a mesmerizing psychological thriller, and THE SILVER DONKEY, a gently told fable for middle-grade readers.
"I chose to narrate the story through a child because people like children, they WANT to like them," says Sonya Hartnett of THURSDAY'S CHILD, her brilliantly original coming-of-age story set during the Great Depression. "Harper [the young narrator] is the reason you get sucked into the characters. Even I, who like to distance myself from my characters, felt protective of her."
The acclaimed author of several award-winning young adult novels--the first written when she was just 13--Australian native Sonya Hartnett says she wrote THURSDAY'S CHILD in a mere three months. "It just pulled itself together," she says. "I'd wanted to set a story in the Depression for some time, in an isolated community that was strongly supportive. Once the dual ideas of the boy who tunneled and the young girl as narrator gelled, it almost wrote itself--I had the cast, I had the setting, I just said 'go.' " Accustomed to writing about edgy young adult characters, Sonya Hartnett says that identifying with a seven-year-old protagonist was a challenge at first. "I found her difficult to approach," she admits. "I'm not really used to children. But once I started, I found you could have fun with her: she could tell lies, she could deny the truth." Whereas most children know "only what adults want them to know," the author discovered she could bypass that limitation by "turning Harper into an eavesdropper and giving her older siblings to reveal realities."
In her second book with Candlewick Press, WHAT THE BIRDS SEE, Sonya Hartnett once again creates a portrait of childhood. This time the subject is Adrian, a nine-year-old boy living in the suburbs with his gran and Uncle. For Adrian, childhood is shaped by fear: his dread of quicksand, shopping centers, and self-combustion. Then one day, three neighborhood children vanish--an incident based on a real case in Australia in the 1960s--and Adrian comes to see just how tenuous his safety net is. In speaking about Adrian, the author provocatively reveals parallels between herself and her character. She says, "Adrian is me in many respects, and many of the things that happen to him happened to me."
Sonya Hartnett's consistently inspired writing has built her a legion of devotees. Of THURSDAY'S CHILD, Newbery Honor-winning author Carolyn Coman says, "Hartnett's beautifully rendered vision drew me in from the very start and carried me along, above and under ground, to the very end. This book amazed me." The achingly beautiful WHAT THE BIRDS SEE has just as quickly garnered critical acclaim. Notes PUBLISHERS WEEKLY in a starred review, "Hartnett again captures the ineffable fragility of childhood in this keenly observed tale. . . . Sophisticated readers will appreciate the work's acuity and poetic integrity." Sonya Hartnett's third young adult novel, STRIPES OF THE SIDESTEP WOLF was named an American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults.
Sonya Hartnett lives near Melbourne, Australia. Her most recent novels are SURRENDER, a mesmerizing psychological thriller, and THE SILVER DONKEY, a gently told fable for middle-grade readers.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 7, 2022
This is the story of being different. The main character is shy and not good at making friends. She wants to put her hand up in classes but she is scared of getting the wrong answer. This is a perfectionist trait. Why cant she be different? If cats can be different colours, why cant people? It conjures some deep thoughts, perhaps the main character is on the spectrum, with perfectionist traits and also social difficulties.
Beautifully illustrated and easy to read aloud.
4 stars
Beautifully illustrated and easy to read aloud.
4 stars
Read
January 4, 2021I'm not chatty or fast or funny. I'm not bossy or loud or wild.
Sometimes I think that even though I try my best,
everyone is better than me.
Beautiful illustrations and a sweet message about overcoming self-doubt and fear.
Sometimes I think that even though I try my best,
everyone is better than me.
Beautiful illustrations and a sweet message about overcoming self-doubt and fear.
January 28, 2023
I love the illustrations, but I think I'm the wrong age range for the story. Perfect for story time, and did I say the illustrations are delicious.
March 16, 2021
What a fantastic message this book has! It is so relatable when reading it to my students - so many of them understand that feeling of not fitting in, feeling different and feeling hesitant to go to school. I think a few of them get a little teary when reading it! The illustrations are stunning! I love the large scenes with the sunsets. The sky is so golden and the trees in the landscape are gorgeous. Makes you want to be in that scene. The portrayal of the child and other students is so interesting - there is so much detail in the school scenes. It brings it to life!
August 31, 2022
This book does a good job of gently communicating that it is OK to be different, the importance of being yourself and of always giving your best, whatever that is.
October 19, 2025
Beautiful ❤️
June 12, 2021
A sweet and gentle portrayal of inadequate feelings, of not fitting in and the ultimate realisation that being different is actually rather wonderful.
School is not great for one little child. They are shy, anxious and beset with worries. What if they are not as good as the other children? Hiding away in the shadows and going unnoticed is easier than trying to make friends. In fact, life would be much easier if they could just stay at home, curl up on the bed and draw pictures with the cat, Piccolo. But what if all this worrying is for nothing and there isn’t the need to be the fastest, the bravest or the funniest. Imagine if you could just be happy with who you are…
Comparing ourselves to others, feelings of inadequacy and of not quite fitting in are only natural for young children and the Blue Flower is a great big, heart-warming hug of a story that makes you feel all happy inside. It is a lovely little journey of self-discovery and of growing self-esteem as one child learns to embrace who they are and to love themselves for the wonderful things that they can do. Despite all of the worries and anxieties, the child learns that being different can be wonderful thanks to a loving mother. It takes a while for the child to realise that their mother is right but after spending time in the field where some trees are tall and some are short, where some flowers are blue and some are yellow and staring up at a sky where not all clouds are white the child has their moment of realisation. “No one wants everything to be the same. Things being different is what makes the world wonderful.”
What a wonderful message this picture book delivers to children. It really could be enjoyed by and shared with children of any age and holds lots of value as children begin to notice how they are different to others and start to maybe feel as if they are the odd one out. The book will easily generate thoughtful discussions about how everyone is different and how each person is wonderful in their own special way.
Sonya Hartnett’s soft and lyrical prose are accompanied by gorgeous watercolour illustrations by Gabriel Evans. Together, Hartnett and Evans have produced a charming picture book that will bring comfort and reassurance to many children.
A beautiful read for developing kindness and empathy towards each other and for learning to love and appreciate ourselves and the unique differences that make each and every person wonderful.
Recommended for 4+.
School is not great for one little child. They are shy, anxious and beset with worries. What if they are not as good as the other children? Hiding away in the shadows and going unnoticed is easier than trying to make friends. In fact, life would be much easier if they could just stay at home, curl up on the bed and draw pictures with the cat, Piccolo. But what if all this worrying is for nothing and there isn’t the need to be the fastest, the bravest or the funniest. Imagine if you could just be happy with who you are…
Comparing ourselves to others, feelings of inadequacy and of not quite fitting in are only natural for young children and the Blue Flower is a great big, heart-warming hug of a story that makes you feel all happy inside. It is a lovely little journey of self-discovery and of growing self-esteem as one child learns to embrace who they are and to love themselves for the wonderful things that they can do. Despite all of the worries and anxieties, the child learns that being different can be wonderful thanks to a loving mother. It takes a while for the child to realise that their mother is right but after spending time in the field where some trees are tall and some are short, where some flowers are blue and some are yellow and staring up at a sky where not all clouds are white the child has their moment of realisation. “No one wants everything to be the same. Things being different is what makes the world wonderful.”
What a wonderful message this picture book delivers to children. It really could be enjoyed by and shared with children of any age and holds lots of value as children begin to notice how they are different to others and start to maybe feel as if they are the odd one out. The book will easily generate thoughtful discussions about how everyone is different and how each person is wonderful in their own special way.
Sonya Hartnett’s soft and lyrical prose are accompanied by gorgeous watercolour illustrations by Gabriel Evans. Together, Hartnett and Evans have produced a charming picture book that will bring comfort and reassurance to many children.
A beautiful read for developing kindness and empathy towards each other and for learning to love and appreciate ourselves and the unique differences that make each and every person wonderful.
Recommended for 4+.
September 21, 2021
SEI UN FIORE BLU" è un racconto tenero che riuscirà a far sentire un bambino semplicemente unico e speciale.
Questa è la storia di una bambina timorosa, fragile e poco sicura di sé stessa. Le sue giornate le vorrebbe trascorrere con la mamma o a letto nella cameretta in compagnia del suo miglior amico felino di nome Piccolo.
La scuola è il luogo per i bambini dove si creano i primi legami, le amicizie, dove si imparano sempre cose nuove e soprattutto ci si mette alla prova, ma lei ha troppa paura di sbagliare, sentendosi così non abbastanza all'altezza degli altri..escludendosi da tutto. L'unica cosa che le dà il sollievo sono i suoi disegni.
Basta poco per sentirsi esclusi o fuori dalla massa, soprattutto in tenera età. Ed è proprio in questi momenti che il dialogo con un bimbo è importante, bisogna saperli ascoltare proprio come ha fatto sua mamma, facendole capire che anche se lei non sa correre forte come gli altri, non conosce una risposta in classe o non fa ridere come i suoi compagni, non significa essere peggiori ma semplicemente si è diversi.. ed è proprio quello che ci rende meravigliosamente unici!
Così la bambina riflette grazie alla passeggiata con il suo gatto, rendendosi conto che tutto ciò che la circonda è unico e diverso.. dagli alberi, al canto degli uccelli e perfino i colori dei meravigliosi fiori, come quelli blu che vede lei e che spiccano in mezzo al campo giallo.
Un messaggio delicato e potente, che arriva dritto al cuore di chi legge o ascolta questo racconto.
Non ho figli, ma ho dei nipoti e ciò che auguro a loro è di diventare dei fiori blu.
Quei fiori blu che risaltano in mezzo a tanti fiori uguali, che si distinguono dalla massa. Il mondo ha bisogno di questi fiori blu...tanti bellissimi e unici fuori blu che migliorano il posto in cui viviamo, non credete???
Questa è la storia di una bambina timorosa, fragile e poco sicura di sé stessa. Le sue giornate le vorrebbe trascorrere con la mamma o a letto nella cameretta in compagnia del suo miglior amico felino di nome Piccolo.
La scuola è il luogo per i bambini dove si creano i primi legami, le amicizie, dove si imparano sempre cose nuove e soprattutto ci si mette alla prova, ma lei ha troppa paura di sbagliare, sentendosi così non abbastanza all'altezza degli altri..escludendosi da tutto. L'unica cosa che le dà il sollievo sono i suoi disegni.
Basta poco per sentirsi esclusi o fuori dalla massa, soprattutto in tenera età. Ed è proprio in questi momenti che il dialogo con un bimbo è importante, bisogna saperli ascoltare proprio come ha fatto sua mamma, facendole capire che anche se lei non sa correre forte come gli altri, non conosce una risposta in classe o non fa ridere come i suoi compagni, non significa essere peggiori ma semplicemente si è diversi.. ed è proprio quello che ci rende meravigliosamente unici!
Così la bambina riflette grazie alla passeggiata con il suo gatto, rendendosi conto che tutto ciò che la circonda è unico e diverso.. dagli alberi, al canto degli uccelli e perfino i colori dei meravigliosi fiori, come quelli blu che vede lei e che spiccano in mezzo al campo giallo.
Un messaggio delicato e potente, che arriva dritto al cuore di chi legge o ascolta questo racconto.
Non ho figli, ma ho dei nipoti e ciò che auguro a loro è di diventare dei fiori blu.
Quei fiori blu che risaltano in mezzo a tanti fiori uguali, che si distinguono dalla massa. Il mondo ha bisogno di questi fiori blu...tanti bellissimi e unici fuori blu che migliorano il posto in cui viviamo, non credete???
April 18, 2022
the young female protagonist is an introvert who struggles to mix and integrate at school, overwhelmed by everyone else's apparent success and hoer how own perceived failures. However, away from the noise and bustle of school, the girl prefers open spaces and quiet places - here she blossoms as she observes the world around her starting with Piccolo the fluffy, and rather adorable cat and then noticing that amongst the sea of yellow flowers there are just a few, occasional blue flowers. She comes to realise that it is OK to be different.
Gabriel Evans illustrations are critical to give this story purpose and clarity to young readers as they bring the text to life. For me, the story was a bit obscure and I feel that without some support, many young students will not fully understanding the messaging, and primary age student will bypass it due its very childlike presentation
Shortlisted 2022 CBCA Picurtre Book of the Year
Gabriel Evans illustrations are critical to give this story purpose and clarity to young readers as they bring the text to life. For me, the story was a bit obscure and I feel that without some support, many young students will not fully understanding the messaging, and primary age student will bypass it due its very childlike presentation
Shortlisted 2022 CBCA Picurtre Book of the Year
June 12, 2022
This is a stunning book both visually and within its story.
The ability to see the character's emotion shown in her questions, words and within the greyed imagery.
I love the simple, small moments of self realisation, perseverance, resilience and self-reliance, because they are the moments of change within our lives. I can hear many a conversation had with my child over the years within this story.
A great story to add to our respectful relationships - identity section within the library.
The ability to see the character's emotion shown in her questions, words and within the greyed imagery.
I love the simple, small moments of self realisation, perseverance, resilience and self-reliance, because they are the moments of change within our lives. I can hear many a conversation had with my child over the years within this story.
A great story to add to our respectful relationships - identity section within the library.
September 24, 2022
Each double-page spread shows expectations of what will happen you the narrator goes to school. Universal reluctance to go to school, feeling like she is "different", the narrator pleads with mom to stay home. As she and her cat Piccolo go outside and make observations, she comes to realize while she often feels slow, it's okay to be different.
January 4, 2025
‘Not all trees are tall. Not all birds are brown. Not all cats are tabby like you, Piccolo. Some are black. Some are orange. Some are calico.’ Piccolo swished his stripy tail. I plucked a flower and showed it to him. ‘This flower isn’t yellow, but it isn’t wrong. It is what it’s supposed to be. No one would want it to be yellow. Everyone would say it’s lovely just the way it is.’
July 16, 2021
A lovely story of self acceptance, self confidence, anxiety and courage.
April 3, 2022
A quiet, very internal story. About a child who feels they don't fit in and, instead of being brave or better, they accept that they're just different. A nice message calmly told.
December 2, 2022
This book starts off with a kid who hates school. Their Reason? They are shy about making friends. They say that the activities at school are hard for her and sometimes when the teacher asks questions they don't know what she means. The kid labels themself as plain; not bossy, loud, or funny. they hates school so much that they asks her mother to stay home sometimes. If they could stay home, they would spend her day with her cat Piccolo. Even though she hates school, once a week she has an art class which she loves. Everyone admires them for their artwork. Going into nature they realized that not everything is the same, some clouds are different colors and some cats are different too.
July 7, 2022
Väldigt vacker men sorglig.
October 23, 2022
Kunde knappt ta mig igenom den.
wishlist-to-buy
March 3, 2024Sonya Hartnett!! You know she has to have done something different with these tropes.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews