February 27, 2026
Daisy is a born gardener. She composted her baby food when she was a wee babe, and was sleeping in a pile of leaves by three. As Daisy grows, she lets plants and wildlife grow on her body as well. After a few weeks, everyone starts to notice Daisy is changing (growing?!). Her parents, baffled by the plants blooming on their daughter, bring in Auntie Betsy to help, and rather than put a stop to her experiment, she encourages Daisy to let the plants grow. “By July, pussytoes were shooting from her shoulders, and fleabane was dancing on her wrists”. Daisy thrives and hears a spectacular idea when a neighbor wishes the whole block looked like Daisy. That evening, she replants all the plants she's been tending, throughout the neighborhood, spreading flowers, herbs, and wildlife all around. No more plain grass lawns and tidy beds, but an explosion of color and life. Backmatter includes the importance of rewilding. If you are introducing your kids to themes of conservation and biodiveristy, this is the book for you!
Favorite Part: The color palette and Auntie Betsy, of course! Having an Auntie you can trust is a true blessing. Even when Daisy’s parents didn’t really approve, they knew Auntie Betsy and Daisy would work together, and things would turn out.
Not Sure: I can’t say a bad thing.
Bits and pieces: I loved this book. It was perfect. I loved the message of rewilding, I loved the trust in Auntie Betsy to take care of Daisy, and I adored Daisy. She knew what she wanted and what made her happy. And she transformed an entire neighborhood from boring lawns to a wildlife and plant haven! The artists used Ink and Watercolor to create illustrations. I read some of this book to my niece H on FaceTime, and she seemed to like it! She interrupted the story several times, which is always a good sign.
