Poppy Bear: The Garden That Overslept

by Ruth E. Saltzman

Did you know that no one knows where flowers came from? No scientist, no botanist. No one knows for sure. All that anyone knows is that there was a time where there were no flowers in the entire world. There were plants like palm trees dotting the Earth, but there weren't any flowers at all. Poppy Bear knows where flowers come from, though! He helps spread them all over the world! 

Poppy The Garden That Overslept is the story of two children, Ida and David, who wake up Poppy Bear--who's overslept meaning that, oh no!, spring is late--and they help bring a garden to life. 
From Today’s "Beautiful illustrations and rhyming prose bring this bedtime story to life for little ones ages 3 to 7. When Springtime arrives late, Ida and her brother, David, set out to find out why. The first few pages of illustrations are black-and-white drawings of the youngsters searching for budding flowers and trees. They stumble upon Poppy Bear snoring soundly in the barren garden, and the pages become a kaleidoscope of colors. With the children’s help, Poppy sets out to bring the garden to life. Poppy and the children plant seeds, call upon the rain clouds and entice the local critters to prance and dance in the blooming garden. The story’s rhyming cadence will keep children entertained and is an easy read-aloud for parents. The detailed illustrations of spring—among them fat raindrops and a bright butterfly emerging from a cocoon—are nothing short of fabulous. Children will be inspired to find springtime in their own backyard."

Genres: Picture Books

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 9, 2001

Reviews

[Sarah]

Ruth is one of my clients and this charming children's book is as lovely as can be.

[Syntha Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated

[Angelica Jajeh · Rating 5 out of 5]

2001 Such a cute Spring story! I'd use this in my classroom as a seasonal book in my library. Fantasy fiction.