The Blue Roses

by Linda Boyden, Amy Córdova

Every spring Rosalie and her grandfather (Papa) sow tiny seeds that blossom into bright vistas of flowers and vegetables. A red rosebush that is planted under Rosalie's bedroom window when she is born, is later joined by pink and yellow ones "to make a sunset." When Rosalie asks for a blue bush to represent the sky, Papa explains that roses do not come in blue. The winter after Papa dies, Rosalie's blue roses come to her in a dream, symbolizing love, memory, and transcendence.

With gentle words and magical images, this contemporary Native American story tenderly embraces the natural cycle of life. Winner of LEE & LOW's first New Voices Award, The Blue Roses is sure to touch all who read it.

Genres: Native American, Picture Books, Indigenous, Family, Childrens, Death

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2002

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very special book about a native American girl, Rosalie, and her grandpa-Papa. Living with her Papa and mom, her grandfather teaches her to garden. She is his little shadow. He teaches her to fertilize with fish. She notices one day that he was looking old and a bit sick. He tells her getting old is "nothing to fear". "Wrinkles? They just tell the story of your life."

Plants dying in the garden.- "Everything has its time to die. New or old, it doesn't matter".

He dies and she mourns him. She has a dream about blue roses. She waits for her real roses to turn blue but they don't. When she goes to visit her Papa's grave with her mom in the spring, blue roses have bloomed around his tombstone.

The illustrations are well done. You can feel the emotion in them.

[Ms. B · Rating 3 out of 5]

A beautiful story about the love between a granddaughter and grandpa (Papa).

[Greg]

This beautiful story is about a girl named Rosalie. Her name comes from the red rosebush that grows under her bedroom window that her grandfather or Papa has tended to since her birth. As Rosalie grows, her Papa teaches her about gardening. As Rosalie gets older, Papa givers her a patch of garden to take care of. When one of Rosalie's pea plants dies, Papa tells her to dig it back into the soil so the other plants will grow strong. Papa explains that when gardening, "Nothing really leaves." As time goes on, Papa grows old and passes on. After shedding tears for her Papa, she has a dream that she sees Papa by the fence of the garden. She dreams of these blue roses and Rosalie now knows that her Papa's spirit will live on forever in their special place, the garden. This story captures the spirit of the cycle of life that lets us believe that people don't leave us when they die; they merely transform into spirits and are always around us.

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I didn't absolutely love the art in this book, I love the story so much that I am still going to give it five stars. A beautiful book about loss and grief and hope. Kids will be able to understand it, and it will touch adults as well. "Nothing ever leaves."

[Mary Green]

A sad, but touching story about a girl gardening with her Papa(grandfather) who planted roses when she was born. She gardened for many years with him and the book tells of their adventures until he passed away. When he passed away she planted blue roses at the grave site and after a few years those roses bloomed.

[Erin *BookDragon_Library* · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lovely story about so many things. About gardening about multi generational living about a grandfather and his granddaughter. It is about love and about loss. There are some good Native American cultural pieces. I really enjoyed it and think it is a beautiful addition to any library.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful story!

[Tony Pope · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story of the love of a Native American grandfather and his granddaughter and how gardening helps her once he passes away.

[Beverly McCall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blue Roses by Linda Boyden is a story about a Native American family and their garden. Boyden introduces us to a young girl, Rosalie, and her grandfather. These two have a special relationship. Rosalie’s grandfather uses the garden to help her understand nature’s life cycle. On her 9th birthday, Rosalie asks her grandfather for a blue rose. She is disappointed when she learns that is not possible. A short time later, grandfather passes away. Rosalie is heartbroken and finds comfort in continuing to care for grandfather’s garden. Every time she works in the garden she feels connected to her grandfather. The love they shared when they garden helps Rosalie to cope with her loss. Boyden does a great job helping children to understand the concept of death and grieving.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every spring Rosalie and her grandfather (Papa) sow tiny seeds that blossom into bright vistas of flowers and vegetables. A red rosebush that is planted under Rosalie's bedroom window when she is born, is later joined by pink and yellow ones "to make a sunset." When Rosalie asks for a blue bush to represent the sky, Papa explains that roses do not come in blue. The winter after Papa dies, Rosalie's blue roses come to her in a dream, symbolizing love, memory, and transcendence.

With gentle words and magical images, this contemporary Native American story tenderly embraces the natural cycle of life. Winner of LEE & LOW's first New Voices Award, The Blue Roses is sure to touch all who read it.

[Maddison Askew]

This is such a beautiful book. It follows a girl names Rosalie and her grandfather. She is named after the rose bush that is under her window. She begins to admire flowers and her father teachers her how to plant and grow her own garden. This is a diverse cultural book that teaches on the cycles of life. When her grandfather dies she has to cope with that and it talks about how she deals with this knowing her grandfather is in heaven. You could use this book in the classroom talking about science and plants.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rosalie tends the families garden with her aging grandfather. He teacher her about the cycles of life. Unfortunately, her grandfather dies and Rosalie must learn how to deal with such a loss in her life. A good book that could be used with students who are dealing with the loss of somebody who was close to them. The themes of the cycle of life, respect for the earth, death and dying, and planting/growing food are explored. Ages 4-8.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another good multiculture childrens book. A young girl develops a connection with her grandfather. They become gardening partners. When her grandfather dies Rosa continues with her heritage and continues to garden the way she was taught. To go along with Native American culture she has a vision about her grandfather. This helps her to know that he iswatching over the garden in heaven. This also leads to a supprising ending near grandpa's headstone at the cemetary.

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book for introducing multicultural themes. A little long winded for younger kids. Also a little sad for a teacher to kid book. I think the book would be more well received by a parents reading to a kid. Helps with loss.

[Xiaohui · Rating 3 out of 5]

Connected with Grandfather’s Journey, The Blue Roses tells another grandfather’s story of a Native American girl. It’s also a great book to teach death, with some Native American beliefs about life circle.

[Veronica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really great children's book. Its about a little girl and her grandpa who love to garden. It embraces the natural cycle of life.

[Mary Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful, heart-warming book about a young girl's love for her grandfather. Every