Review of Mmm…marigolds!

[Rebecca De Figueiredo]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Mmm…marigolds!" by Veronica Saretsky.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Title: MMM...Marigolds!
Author: Veronica Saretsky
Illustrated by Patricia F. Braga

There is something old-fashioned and homely about this little book. It has the ambience of a time gone by, yet it is still relevant to children today. It is set in a beautiful garden with an ever-present grandma who seems accepting of the flower-consuming deer. The story is not fantastical or futuristic. It is down to earth and will resonate with children's parents.

The story introduces unique elements that will pique a child's interest, such as the deer, the flowers, and the country house. These elements, along with the underlying message of accepting new food, love, and peace, make the story engaging and relatable for children. This is particularly useful for parents, as it encourages children to embrace new experiences and learn important life lessons.

The illustrations are the main talking point of this book. The artist is very talented, as the pictures are stunning. This place in the country has been portrayed delightfully with rich, appropriate colours, not whimsical, cartoonish or futuristic, which is refreshing. The sun is shining, and all the characters are happy. It is also with relief that the illustrations do not seem as if they are computer-generated.

In this happy, almost dreamlike book, there is a simple story: a young deer will get through the other flowers and have to eat the marigolds, which he has been avoiding. Some words might be new to a child, such as 'petunias', 'pansies', and 'peonies': it's always good to learn new words, and the letter 'P' might be remembered afterwards. I feel it's a slight pity that the young deer isn't appropriately named (fawn), but perhaps this might be too much for a young child to understand, along with the flower's names.

All in all, this is a delightful book for a child and will be enjoyed. Because of the artwork, it is one of those children's books that will be kept for years. I found no grammatical mistakes, enjoyed it, and had nothing to dislike. For these reasons, I will award it five out of five stars.

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Mmm…marigolds!
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[Amy Luman]

I don’t normally enjoy children’s books. This one, however, seems to really point to kids. I can understand the deer’s aversion to things they don’t like, but can see that it is necessary. Thanks!

[Amarachi Stephanie Ejike]

Strange title, but perhaps for a kids' book, may be appropriate.
The story of a young who had to learn to eat the Marigolds he'd been averse to is a notable lesson and encouragement to our little ones to be open to trying out positive new things.