Flowers of every kind never fail to stun me, even if I am a total failure at gardening. That’s probably why I paint flowers instead (now and then) . . .
And write about them—which I did from the first page to the last in “When Flowers Bloom,” the 3rd book in the Oh, Mateo! series (illustrated by Beth Parrocha-Doctolero).
For this book, I focused on the value of hardwork—of using time wisely. To help young readers visualize this value, I created a character, Ms. Milagrosa Florera Flores, who loved flowers with so much passion she never stopped making them bloom.
How? By planting them, embroidering them, crocheting them, quilting them, knitting them, drawing them, painting them, etc. etc. etc. on fans, baskets, bags, vases, curtains, scarves, etc. etc. etc.
Only one little boy, Mateo, and her father, who remained awake while everyone slept before sleeping time, welcomed her.
But in the morning, how could anyone not notice a happy lady (“It is easier to be happy than to be sad!”) wearing a floral dress and flowers on her hair, who lived in a house that bloomed with flowers from the roof to the ground?
And what do you know? The townspeople were roused from stupor into excitement. And they, too, made flowers bloom!
(All the books in the Oh, Mateo series are available in any bookstore at P120 per copy)
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