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Bloom
From the author of Curls and Glow comes a joyfully poetic board book that delivers an ode to African American girls as naturally beautiful in our human garden.
those girls bloom
these do too
we bloom like flowers
how about you?
Introduce young readers to the idea of self-love in a simple, playful rhythm with this luminous story where each little girl is as unique and beautiful as a blossoming flower.
those girls bloom
these do too
we bloom like flowers
how about you?
Introduce young readers to the idea of self-love in a simple, playful rhythm with this luminous story where each little girl is as unique and beautiful as a blossoming flower.
26 pages, Board book
Published April 26, 2022
1 person is currently reading
78 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
April 25, 2022
Beautiful book! I just loved the illustrations. It looks magical. I also loved the meaning of the story. How each girl blooms as she grew up like a flower slowly blooming. Comparing girls to flowers is the best because flowers are beautiful and to show many girl readers that they are pretty like variety of flowers will just boost their confidence a bit more.
This book started with a girl wearing a blue shirt. The narrator indicated that she blooms. The next page informed readers that this girl in purple shirt blooms too. Another page with a girl wearing a dress and readers learned that she blooms and so does the girl standing next to the sunflowers. Forward into the story, readers will see that there are six girls and they all bloom like flowers. The story went on to indicated that the girls made a garden and so do the readers.
Bloom was well written and illustrated. This book will definitely put a smile on young readers. This book offered a bit of interaction with readers when the friends in the story said that they bloom like flowers and asked if readers do too. At the end of the book, the friends said because they bloom like flowers they in turn made a garden and so do readers. A must read book for toddlers and I highly recommend everyone to read it!
xoxo, Jasmine at www.Howusefulitis.com for more details
Many thanks to SimonKids for the opportunity to read and review. Please be assured that my opinions are honest.
This book started with a girl wearing a blue shirt. The narrator indicated that she blooms. The next page informed readers that this girl in purple shirt blooms too. Another page with a girl wearing a dress and readers learned that she blooms and so does the girl standing next to the sunflowers. Forward into the story, readers will see that there are six girls and they all bloom like flowers. The story went on to indicated that the girls made a garden and so do the readers.
Bloom was well written and illustrated. This book will definitely put a smile on young readers. This book offered a bit of interaction with readers when the friends in the story said that they bloom like flowers and asked if readers do too. At the end of the book, the friends said because they bloom like flowers they in turn made a garden and so do readers. A must read book for toddlers and I highly recommend everyone to read it!
xoxo, Jasmine at www.Howusefulitis.com for more details
Many thanks to SimonKids for the opportunity to read and review. Please be assured that my opinions are honest.
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December 24, 2023Ruth Forman's
One
was one of Betsy Bird's Great Board Books of 2023, and when I requested a copy from the library, I also requested copies of her other board books.
This one is just a series of Black girls who "bloom like flowers." They're depicted enjoying and caring for various flowers (and the illustrations do a nice job of mirroring the girls and the flowers -- especially in the first half; shout-out to illustrator Talia Skyles).
It's pretty repetitive, but does include various skin shades and hair styles. And Black girls don't often get associated with flowers like white girls get to be.
This one is just a series of Black girls who "bloom like flowers." They're depicted enjoying and caring for various flowers (and the illustrations do a nice job of mirroring the girls and the flowers -- especially in the first half; shout-out to illustrator Talia Skyles).
It's pretty repetitive, but does include various skin shades and hair styles. And Black girls don't often get associated with flowers like white girls get to be.
July 19, 2022
Hair representation.
Skin tone representation.
Hair color representation.
Eye color representation.
The positivity and how they are compared to flowers, I love everything about this one.
Skin tone representation.
Hair color representation.
Eye color representation.
The positivity and how they are compared to flowers, I love everything about this one.
August 31, 2023
The book is simple and very visual. Each page shows black girls surrounded by flowers and text alluding to them "blooming." It seems like a clear miss to have a book alluding to every girl being part of a beautiful tapestry of flowers and have them only be black; it would have made more sense to have multiple races represented.
May 1, 2022
This book is so cute! The illustrations are gorgeous and I love the repetitiveness of the words for my baby. As a mixed mom with mixed kids, I’m always looking for children’s books featuring children of color. I love that this book highlights just how much variety there is in the black community alone. Definitely recommend!
Note: I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Note: I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
April 28, 2022
This review was originally written for The Baby Bookworm. Visit us for new picture books reviews daily!
Hello, friends! Our book today is Bloom, written by Ruth Forman and illustrated by Talia Skyles, a sweet board book about black girl beauty.
Just like each flower, each female-presenting black child in this garden blooms. No matter their skintone, hair type, hair color, or style, each girl is beautiful. And just like the flowers, they each have their own way of blooming, yet no way is better or more beautiful than the others. After all, the best gardens are filled with flowers of all different shapes and shades. And so, each little difference makes the whole more beautiful.
Lovely. Historically and currently, young black and brown bookworms are frequently inundated by beauty ideals that can be detrimental to their sense of self. Forman and Talia take these notions and turn them on their head, using simple text and lush illustrations to draw a parallel between diversity in beauty – specifically pertaining to black bodies – and the varied flowers of a springtime garden. It’s a visual metaphor that works extremely well, especially with te inclusion of further attributes that are often considered “undesirable,” such as glasses or natural red hair. I wish very much that some of the girls had represented different body types, disabilities, or other presentations of physical diversity (vitiligo, for instance), but this is a great start at assuring young readers that their natural features are unequivocally beautiful. The length is great for a quick read, and JJ enjoyed it very much. Baby Bookworm approved!
(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)
Be sure to check out The Baby Bookworm for more reviews!
April 24, 2022
Book provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review
The heart of Bloom shares a simple message: little girls are all special and bloom in their own way. The prose is simple enough for beginning readers to follow and there is a joyous feeling to this book, little girls who can do anything play and frolic in a garden setting.
Let’s discuss just how magical Bloom is! The happy vibe of the book is boosted by the illustrations which are divine. Illustrator Talia Skyles’ interpretations of “girls that bloom” show girls with hair textures that you’d find in real life. This books is filled with girls that are different shades of brown and I spotted braids, bantu knots, curls, dread locs and more!
So why is this important?
Because it’s critical for Black and Brown girls to see themselves depicted in media.
Books like Bloom weren’t readily available when I was a little girl and forget seeing my own hair texture depicted in books I read. I love that Ruth Forman and Talia Sykes are creating wonderful diverse board books for a new generation of readers!
Bloom by Ruth Forman is a beautiful board book and releases April 26 2022!
Join the Books + Bliss Book community for reviews and GIVEAWAYS here: https://www.facebook.com/Bliss-Books-...
The heart of Bloom shares a simple message: little girls are all special and bloom in their own way. The prose is simple enough for beginning readers to follow and there is a joyous feeling to this book, little girls who can do anything play and frolic in a garden setting.
Let’s discuss just how magical Bloom is! The happy vibe of the book is boosted by the illustrations which are divine. Illustrator Talia Skyles’ interpretations of “girls that bloom” show girls with hair textures that you’d find in real life. This books is filled with girls that are different shades of brown and I spotted braids, bantu knots, curls, dread locs and more!
So why is this important?
Because it’s critical for Black and Brown girls to see themselves depicted in media.
Books like Bloom weren’t readily available when I was a little girl and forget seeing my own hair texture depicted in books I read. I love that Ruth Forman and Talia Sykes are creating wonderful diverse board books for a new generation of readers!
Bloom by Ruth Forman is a beautiful board book and releases April 26 2022!
Join the Books + Bliss Book community for reviews and GIVEAWAYS here: https://www.facebook.com/Bliss-Books-...
July 23, 2025
I appreciate the joy and affirmation throughout Forman's anthology, even with the sparse and lyrical text. I do think a different illustrator would have been better for the endeavor. I described illustrations in "Glow" as seeming too digitized, and I continue to have the prevailing sense of dolls instead of everyday-real-life girls. That said, the colors, flower, and smiles of a diverse group of Black girls are all cheerful, and this book is sure to resonate with many.
April 27, 2022
I cannot express how beautiful this book is, it’s words and illustrations so powerful and elegant that I feel love and loved and seen and known just by reading it.
So proud of the lovely hands that drew this masterpiece ♥️
So proud of the lovely hands that drew this masterpiece ♥️
May 4, 2022
Bloom is an easy, fun read for young readers, plus I'm a sucker for a lyrical book. I deeply appreciate anything that highlights and affirms young Black children. And Talia Skyles's illustrations are captivating!
November 9, 2022
Illustrations- 5 stars
Text- 1 star. Kind of pointless. Richly disappointing. My daughter begged for this book based on the cover alone. We got it home and it's just all "she blooms, they bloom, she blooms, they bloom" over and over.
Text- 1 star. Kind of pointless. Richly disappointing. My daughter begged for this book based on the cover alone. We got it home and it's just all "she blooms, they bloom, she blooms, they bloom" over and over.
June 15, 2022
Very cute.
June 20, 2022
Great illustrations and cute book!
June 29, 2022
Just like Curls this book also reminds me of my sister when she was little.
July 9, 2022
An empowering board book for girls, especially Black girls! They bloom perfectly, just like flowers do. A short story with an important message in rhyming text.
July 10, 2022
Absolutely loved the illustrations! Sublime works of art.
July 11, 2022
This was a cute book and also the illustrations we're on point
July 14, 2022
Gorgeous illustrations and message. Lovely board book for kids.
July 18, 2022
Poetic celebration of little girls.
August 29, 2022
Beautiful illustrations and sentiment. ❤️
September 14, 2022
Message and illustrations are beautiful. Extremely limited text. Celebration of African American girls
September 25, 2022
Beautiful illustrations by Talia Skyles. This is a beautiful book I will keep for my future daughters.
September 27, 2022
A variety of girls are compared to flowers in their ability to bloom in this baby and up book.
May 1, 2023
Where’s the capitalization? Punctuation is spotty too!
September 19, 2023
Beautiful illustrations showing many different Black girls and their various hair types, hair colors, and hair styles. Also many different skin tones.
October 12, 2023
Currently my kiddo’s favorite book. The illustrations are stunning and seeing my child light up looking at faces that mirror hers is priceless!
February 23, 2024
Absolutely stunning art!
December 21, 2024
Simple and sweet. So many beautiful brown faces and hairstyles
June 6, 2025
Gorgeous illustrations
March 28, 2023
Stunning illustrations, simple repetitive words that are great for young minds, and a beautiful message that will grow along with them. I love this book!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews