Following the ubiquitous weed, Dandelion is an adorable tale about a tenacious plant striving to be seen for more than her label. The ugly duckling in the garden, this noble bloom perseveres despite naysayers. Dandelion wakes up in the flowerbed not knowing she doesn’t belong until the Heathers and Pansies explain why she isn’t being picked to go home with one of the big things from the sky (a human). She doesn’t let their labels deter her: she counters their logic with science and explains she has the same structure that they do. When they tell her to give up, she stands tall and hopes for someone else to appreciate her beauty. One by one the other flowers are picked, yet Dandelion remains resolute in her goal. The Pansy patiently explains why her brilliant colors make her an ideal choice and how she was planted and landscaped in contrast to the Dandelion being sewn by chance. She’s a bit snobby, and her behavior reminds me of some small children rigidly clinging to their knowledge about a topic. The Heathers weren’t quite as snobby, in my opinion, but they did challenge Dandelion’s dream of being picked. They struck me as being a bit bossy. The human featured was as unique as Dandelion: fluffy orange hair for petals, and a whimsical spirit seeing beauty where others did not. Diverse characters matter in books—we know it’s important for children to see people who look like them, and this book features a tiny redhead. The garden this takes place in, and the flowers themselves, are vibrantly illustrated. I love the depictions, and, more importantly, my little one loves the book. After our copy arrived, we read it over and over again and I found my little one poring over the pages on more than one instance. We all face rejections at some point, and it doesn’t feel good. We all have times where we have to keep trying even though it’s hard. This book combines STEAM with social-emotional learning. The appendices have age-appropriate resources for learning more about plants, including a life cycle and facts about the featured flora.