What do you think?
Rate this book
The Rare, Tiny Flower
“Kitty O'Meara is the poet laureate of the pandemic”—The Observer
“The Rare Tiny Flower was created to speak about our need to listen to each other more, respect others' opinions and just be better humans. The book speaks to both adults and children.” –10thirtysix, Milwaukee PBS
This timely and timeless tale by Kitty O’Meara, like her best-selling book about the pandemic, And the People Stayed Home, offers wisdom relevant to difficult current situations and provides hope for resolution and growth.
The Rare, Tiny Flower is a beautifully produced picture book that explores themes of difference, divisiveness, tolerance, and unity as well as the agency of children through a thoughtful parable told in rhyming verse and accompanied by deeply felt illustrations.
This rhyming poem features a mysterious flower in the midst of a forest that appears as a different color to each viewer, which leads to escalating strife as everyone insists that their vision is “right.” World leaders and even botanists are unable to agree on the nature of the flower, and declare war as a way to resolve the conflict. It takes the vision and bravery of a young girl to point out that the flower is, in fact, quite multi-dimensional. Remarkably, she has the ability to be heard by the squabbling masses, who then see beyond their fighting and begin to rebuild bridges of communication and commit to connecting with one another and respecting varying points of view.
Kitty O’Meara’s thoughtful poem includes people realizing and voicing this important lesson:
“Maybe there are
other colors to see;
what’s lovely to you
could be lovely to me.”
O’Meara is the author of a bestselling book about the pandemic, And the People Stayed Home, based on her poem that went viral. The Rare, Tiny Flower also speaks to current world events as well as truths about human nature. O’Meara’s wise words are paired with evocative illustrations by Quim Torres.
“The Rare Tiny Flower was created to speak about our need to listen to each other more, respect others' opinions and just be better humans. The book speaks to both adults and children.” –10thirtysix, Milwaukee PBS
This timely and timeless tale by Kitty O’Meara, like her best-selling book about the pandemic, And the People Stayed Home, offers wisdom relevant to difficult current situations and provides hope for resolution and growth.
The Rare, Tiny Flower is a beautifully produced picture book that explores themes of difference, divisiveness, tolerance, and unity as well as the agency of children through a thoughtful parable told in rhyming verse and accompanied by deeply felt illustrations.
This rhyming poem features a mysterious flower in the midst of a forest that appears as a different color to each viewer, which leads to escalating strife as everyone insists that their vision is “right.” World leaders and even botanists are unable to agree on the nature of the flower, and declare war as a way to resolve the conflict. It takes the vision and bravery of a young girl to point out that the flower is, in fact, quite multi-dimensional. Remarkably, she has the ability to be heard by the squabbling masses, who then see beyond their fighting and begin to rebuild bridges of communication and commit to connecting with one another and respecting varying points of view.
Kitty O’Meara’s thoughtful poem includes people realizing and voicing this important lesson:
“Maybe there are
other colors to see;
what’s lovely to you
could be lovely to me.”
O’Meara is the author of a bestselling book about the pandemic, And the People Stayed Home, based on her poem that went viral. The Rare, Tiny Flower also speaks to current world events as well as truths about human nature. O’Meara’s wise words are paired with evocative illustrations by Quim Torres.
40 pages, Hardcover
Published June 28, 2022
2 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
About the author
Kitty O'Meara
3 books13 followersKitty O’Meara has worked as a copywriter and editor, a middle school teacher, a spiritual care provider in hospital and hospice settings, and has always been a writer.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 28, 2021
A great picture book that shares a message about slowing down to listen to others words and ideas.
August 5, 2022
Noted poet Kitty O’Meara became a best-selling author when her book “And the People Stayed Home” captivated a global audience, based on her pandemic poem that went viral online. She has a way of tapping into the emotional significance of human existence in a way that includes every living soul. Fortunately, fans and new readers have been blessed with her latest entry, “The Rare, Tiny Flower”, which tells a familiar story about how people’s perceptions can be so divisive that they can bring us to the brink of war. However, when we listen to our youth, and tap into the forgotten youth that may be dwelling inside of us, a more open mind can form a pathway to peace.
In similar fashion to her last masterpiece, O’Meara works with an incredible international artist, Quim Torres, who is able to connect with her clear and rhythmic storytelling to create a colorful, balanced aesthetic. And although its depiction is clearly from a time and place unknown to our own reality, their talented collaboration showcases the dichotomy between our society’s harmful rhetoric and propensity for change that underlines man’s duality. The fact that it is very much a children’s book does not defy its deep soulfulness. When the characters learn to get along and recognize the true, exotic beauty of the rare, tiny flower at the center of their original disagreement, they eventually find a gentle joy that they simultaneously share with the reader.
In similar fashion to her last masterpiece, O’Meara works with an incredible international artist, Quim Torres, who is able to connect with her clear and rhythmic storytelling to create a colorful, balanced aesthetic. And although its depiction is clearly from a time and place unknown to our own reality, their talented collaboration showcases the dichotomy between our society’s harmful rhetoric and propensity for change that underlines man’s duality. The fact that it is very much a children’s book does not defy its deep soulfulness. When the characters learn to get along and recognize the true, exotic beauty of the rare, tiny flower at the center of their original disagreement, they eventually find a gentle joy that they simultaneously share with the reader.
June 8, 2023
What an inspired-and-inspiring topic for a children's picture book.
Even before they get to the story, children may think, "That's me. I'm rare. I'm tiny. I'm like the rare, tiny flower."
I wouldn't be surprised if kids identify with that flower right from the start, and take personally what happens to it.
And then the story proceeds until we encounter the wise child. She's the human hero of this fable. She has something to teach the powerful grownups who have dominated the tale thus far!
Welcome to tear-up time.
Plus, if you keep reading, more tears may follow. Good tears.
FIVE STAR review for this magnificent, poetic fable by Kitty O'Meara,
with the lovely-lovely, gently creative, thought-provoking illustrations by Quim Torres.
Even before they get to the story, children may think, "That's me. I'm rare. I'm tiny. I'm like the rare, tiny flower."
I wouldn't be surprised if kids identify with that flower right from the start, and take personally what happens to it.
And then the story proceeds until we encounter the wise child. She's the human hero of this fable. She has something to teach the powerful grownups who have dominated the tale thus far!
Welcome to tear-up time.
Plus, if you keep reading, more tears may follow. Good tears.
FIVE STAR review for this magnificent, poetic fable by Kitty O'Meara,
with the lovely-lovely, gently creative, thought-provoking illustrations by Quim Torres.
August 11, 2022
THIS BOOK!!
Phew, guys I’m telling you— this book had me in my feels. So many emotions flowing because this book is our current reality. We’re stuck as a society at the beginning of this book. We’re stuck as a country arguing over the rights of human beings who live here. But it’s my hope, through this book and education at home, that we will raise a generation of children who can look at the whole flower and be better. This book belongs in every home, classroom and library. Every child should have access to these beautiful, poetic words & incredible illustrations.
MUST READ. It may seem advanced but both my 2yo & 4yo understood the message. And it led us to beautiful discussions.
Phew, guys I’m telling you— this book had me in my feels. So many emotions flowing because this book is our current reality. We’re stuck as a society at the beginning of this book. We’re stuck as a country arguing over the rights of human beings who live here. But it’s my hope, through this book and education at home, that we will raise a generation of children who can look at the whole flower and be better. This book belongs in every home, classroom and library. Every child should have access to these beautiful, poetic words & incredible illustrations.
MUST READ. It may seem advanced but both my 2yo & 4yo understood the message. And it led us to beautiful discussions.
May 5, 2023
When different people see the same flower and believe it is a particular color there is disagreement; and that disagreement leads to anger; and that anger threatens to become violence. It is not until a little girl points out that as the flower is rotated it flashes - many different colors. A lesson we should all take to heart.
August 24, 2023
This book definitely skews older, but the illustrations are lovely and the message is timely and important. We all need to slow down and listen to understand. This would make a nice discussion starter in a story time with older kids (ideally 6-8 years old).
May 9, 2025
Comença bé però va perdent força pel camí i acaba amb un final una mica descafeinat.
Està bé per tertúlies dialògiques al voltant dels diferents punts de vista i el conflictes, però realment aprofondeix poc...
Està bé per tertúlies dialògiques al voltant dels diferents punts de vista i el conflictes, però realment aprofondeix poc...
June 13, 2025
I got this book for free at a Pride parade. The illustrations are beautiful, but the message is not as clear as it could be.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews