MY SUNFLOWER

A small seed germinates and grows to a life-size flower in a series of pop-ups.

A one-step version of the transformation occurs first just by opening the die-cut cover. On subsequent page turns, water flows from a watering can, then a shoot pokes up from the buried seed into the sun, grows with the pull of a tab, and at last bursts into radiant bloom. In very short, declarative sentences, the accompanying narrative introduces basic terminology: “Down go the roots, up come the shoots.” The bright ground-view illustrations offer a fanciful view of the natural setting, as Ferrero puts smiles on the faces of onlooking mice and insects, gives at least one earthworm rows of little legs, and, in the climactic spread, outfits a visiting honeybee with eyeglasses. The final opening, though unadorned with special effects, offers a more straightforward view of a sunflower’s life cycle and introduces further key terms such as “germinate” and “photosynthesis.” Though aside from that watering can, it’s really nature’s show, one of the two young gardeners on the front cover is blond and pink-cheeked, the other dark of skin and hair.

A sunny alternative when it’s impractical to go outside and watch real flowers pop up.