Praise
A sweet Finnish tale of a flower in need of just a little reassurance . . . the text truly becomes the star of the show, as when readers learn that 'a small, clear voice [is] far more impressive than a loud, bombastic one.' . . . A gentle reminder that gardening and friendship possess their own kind of magic.
— Kirkus Reviews
Across naif-style spreads loosely stroked in petit-four greens, lavenders, and pinks, Maijala shows [Willow and Aspen] pondering a plant’s origin . . . Conflict barely ripples this winding, cozy story about adopting a living thing and taking steps to see to its needs.
The whimsical, abstract art, executed in broad, playful, childlike strokes of oil pastel and crayon, add to the story’s sense of innocent adventure and discovery. The absence of black outlines in the joyful and expressive illustrations lends a sense of fluidity in keeping with the storyline. The large trim size begs readers to notice small details about the people (who are diverse in skin tone and hair color) and bustling background scenes. Spangenberg’s translation reads smoothly, capturing the poignancy of Rosie’s tale and the juxtaposition between her urgent flight to freedom and the ordinary lives unfolding around her. A touching, optimistic, and charmingly rendered story of hope and resilience.
— Kirkus Reviews, starred review, for Rosie Runs