The Flower Ball

by Sigrid Laube, Silke Leffler (Illustrator)

With charming and colorful illustrations, this lively story delivers an important message of acceptance to young readers. When Cauliflower and Carrot decide to go to the Flower Ball, the other vegetables are scandalized—since vegetables and flowers don't look and smell alike, they think they should stick to their own kinds. At the ball, the flowers are indignant over this strange brushwood attending their fragrant party, but Cauliflower and Carrot are self-confident and don't hesitate to dance a Snap-Bean Rumba, a Cucumber Tango, and a Chili-Pepper Cha-Cha-Cha. The two of them make a beautiful sight, and despite themselves, the flowers applaud. Soon the flowers open up their buds, and a vegetable–flower friendship grows.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

30 pages, Hardcover

First published March 31, 2005

Reviews

[Mir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vegetables crashing the flower ball?! O the crudité!

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I discovered Silke Leffler's delightful art on a 2009 calendar and was soon thrilled to find she has illustrated many children's books. Alas, most of them are not available in English (honestly, that wouldn't stop me from buying them for the illustrations, though most are also from foreign countries and thus very expensive!) So, I was enchanted to find that one of her books IS published here in America and that it involves a flower ball, how charming! The story itself was nothing especially inspired (cauliflower and carrot decide to break tradition and leave the vegetable garden to attend the flower's ball--at first they are shunned, but they are so charming and dance so beautifully that the flowers all decide to like them, after all, and everyone ends up friends). However, the story provides a rich backdrop for Leffler's imagination and charming, sweet, and quirky illustrations. I just love them, so fully of whimsy! :-) I also have her Christmas collection which I will enjoy over the holidays.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Cauliflower and Carrot decide to leave the Vegetable Bunch, and attend the Flower Ball instead, there is consternation in both camps. "You should stick with your own kind," declares Lettuce, while the Radishes chirp: "Proper vegetables never look past their own fence!" The flowers are no more pleased, with Carnation sneering: "Raw vegetables - how dreadfully crude!", and Marigold labeling the interlopers "tedious soup-wallowers." But then the intrepid vegetables begin to dance, and their snazzy Snap-Bean Rumba, breezy Cucumber Tango, and Chili-Pepper Cha-Cha-Cha, soon win them friends...

Originally published as Der Blumenball, this charming Austrian picture-book is probably most notable for Silke Leffler's highly individual fairy-tale-type illustrations. The story - translated by Philip Boehm - is engaging enough, with its tale of learning to look past differences, and find friends of all kind, but it is the artwork that holds the reader's attention. I don't know that I would rank Leffler, with her collage-ish flower and vegetable portraits, among my favorite picture-book artists - her faces are a little too small to be entirely appealing - but the overall effect of her work is very pleasing, and I'm glad to have come across The Flower Ball (Thank you, Kathryn!). All in all, a title I would recommend to fans of the illustrator, and to those young readers with a taste for "flower-fairy" type stories.

[Kayli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVED the pictures in this book!! They are SOOOO fun!! Flowers and vegetables dressed up for a ball---so great!! The story itself wasn't phenomenal, but definitely worth it for the pictures.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

flowers, friends, getting along with others despite differences, dancing

[Adrianaboitor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story. Friendship and tolerance are the key words to teach our children while reading!!!

[Linda Lipko · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is the eve of the flower ball, the vegetable bunch is not included. Nevertheless, bravely cauliflower and carrot vow to attend. Each group wary of the other, When the two intruders began to dance, they swayed throughout the flower. Gaining the attention of the flowers, one by one, they bravely asked the veggies to dance. I loved the illustrations in this book. I'll keep this one and not give it away.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful art for both the flowers and the vegetables, but the language was a little wordy for any pre-K or younger reader. Good lesson about accepting others and making friends.

Carrot and Cauliflower attend the Flower Ball, much to the dismay and alarm of their fellow vegetables. Though the Flowers make fun of them at first, their enthusiasm and charm win everyone over and new friendships between vegetables and flowers are made.

[Ruth · Rating 2 out of 5]

The artwork was delightful in this picture book, but the story and its wording was a little odd. Perhaps some of that may come from being written by an Austrian author for whom English is a second language.

[The Brothers · Rating 3 out of 5]

A kind of weird "us vs. them" story about vegetables going to a flower ball. At first they are shunned and looked down on, but in the end, they all discover that "we CAN get along." A bit odd and stilted for my tastes.

Illustrations are weirdly interesting.

[Bear · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read-a-loud.

[Bree Decker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute children's book with excellent illustrations!

[Hilary Dotson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute book! The illustrations are so well done and the message of the story is a good one. The kind of book any Mom would want her kids to read.