This gorgeously illustrated book for young readers is on the themes of gardening and giving. FLOWERS FOR GRANDMOTHER tells of a girl called Kendahl. She visits her grandmother and enjoys spending time in her garden.

As grandmother's birthday is approaching, Kendahl asks her mother if they can give her some flowering plants. They visit a garden store with its visual feast of all things garden-related, where Kendahl learns about bulbs which are large seeds to plant in the ground. Kendahl looks at the lumpy brown items and decides to buy different coloured gladioli bulbs, so that her grandmother will be surprised by the variety when they grow. Her mother leaves her to choose the colours, and that's when a mix-up occurs.

After all the work that goes into tending the plants, and all the time waiting for them to grow, it turns out that Kendahl gets a big surprise, but since her grandmother is still delighted with the result, everybody wins.

This little book is only 22 pages but it's definitely a visual treat, the illustrations by Jami Lyn Sizer often worthy of framing, each page more attractive than the next. I loved the nature theme as little bees and bugs inhabit the garden; also the family contact and respect for the senior lady. While there is no real challenge the concepts presented are those that children often have to face... slow passage of days, finding out what will be a suitable present, learning that not all bulbs that look alike turn out alike. Knowing that the little girl will get a surprise will keep kids giggling and turning the pages. Kendahl Youngs has applied herself to creating a story about the kind of things that kids need to learn, told simply. I expect that grandmothers would enjoy reading this book with their grandchildren.

FLOWERS FOR GRANDMOTHER would be ideal for early readers and it's good fun too. There's even a maze puzzle right at the end.