https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DPT6DPR6
Editorial Review For Are You the Flower or the
Weed?
Max’s life as
a school bully isn’t working out. Between empty lunch tables and a principal
who knows him too well, he’s more isolated than intimidating. Enter Grandma,
who swaps pep talks for gardening gloves. Pulling weeds and planting flowers,
Max realizes something: being a nuisance gets you yanked, but nurturing things
gets you noticed. The metaphor isn’t subtle, but it sticks—choices matter,
kindness spreads, and maybe acting like a weed isn’t the flex he thought it
was.
The book’s
strength lies in its no-nonsense approach. Gardening as a life lesson? It’s a
stretch, but it works. The flower-versus-weed analogy is simple enough for kids
to grasp, and the lack of sugarcoating makes the message memorable. Rhyming
text keeps it brisk, and Grandma’s role as the wise-but-not-preachy guide
avoids eye-roll territory.
Children’s
books about bullying aren’t new, but this one skips the dramatic showdowns for
quiet reflection. It fits neatly into the “teachable moments” genre, where
stories double as conversation starters. No dragons or superheroes here—just
dirt, decisions, and a kid figuring out how not to be the worst.
Kids who’ve
ever felt stuck in a bad habit will relate. Adults desperate to discuss empathy
without lecturing will appreciate the metaphor. Therapists might roll their
sleeves up and assign it as homework. If you’ve got a child who thinks being
mean is a personality trait, this could nudge them toward softer soil.
Predictable? Sure. But sometimes a straightforward story about
not being a jerk is exactly what the garden needed.