Sunflower Summer

AUTHOR: Wendy Dunham
ILLUSTRATOR: Michal Sparks

From the Publisher:

Sunflower Summer is one of four books in the Tales of Buttercup Grove early reader series.

When Raccoon cleans his garden shed, he finds seven giant sunflower seeds–just enough for him and his friends. To celebrate the first day of summer, he invites his friends to help plant them. When Raccoon’s friends discover it will take one-hundred days for their seeds to become full-grown, they become discouraged. However, with the help of Raccoon, the woodland friends experience a one-hundred day journey that demonstrates the joy that’s often found in waiting. In the tradition of timeless classics such as The Tale of Peter Rabbit and The Many Adventures of the Winnie the Pooh, The Tales of Buttercup Grove series introduces young readers, ages 3-7, to the many fun adventures of Skunk, Raccoon, and the rest of their woodland friends. Along the way, children will learn timeless virtues, such as sharing, compassion, kindness, encouragement, and patience.

Leah’s Thoughts:

This series is such a hidden gem for kids ready for their first short chapter books. The stories are sweet and simple, with gentle Christian themes woven in, and the soft illustrations help break up the text without distracting from it. Some of the books are out of print, so check your library or used bookstores. These are 100% worth tracking down.