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Whimsical Tale
How Flowers Got Their Colors follows a young shepherd living in a quiet valley where the world is stuck in just three colors, who dreams of capturing the colors of the rainbow to brighten the meadow. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
This and 18 other stories I made up as nighttime tales for my younger daughter when she was 6 and 7 years old, and is now 36 and has been CEO of the Company! I began the publishing process when I began to have grandchildren!
What were some educational aspects that were important for you to include in this children’s book?
This whimsical tale is intended to convey the power of “sticking to it” or persistence when trying to accomplish something, and a willingness to listen and take a suggestion to heart and follow through to accomplish a goal.
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with the illustrator Alejandro Echavez?
When Amplify Publishing and I commenced working together, I was sent a list of 25 artists with samples of their styles. I was asked to pick five, and then those artists sent their interpretation or rendition of a frame or two from one of my stories. Once I had those frames, I was asked to pick two, and Alejandro was one of them. His work is rich and presents the storyline beautifully. He has completed my fifth book, The Lost Locket, and is working on my sixth, Way Up North, a coming-of-age story of a young Eskimo who lives near the North Pole. Alejandro is very accessible and revises and updates his artwork through dialogue and mutual collaboration.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
I have completed The Lost Locket, a tale about a little girl who loses an heirloom necklace on the Golden Gate Bridge, which is collected by a pigeon and returned 30 years later when the little girl, now a mother, returns to the Bridge with her daughter. This book will be shipped in several months. The next book, Way Up North, is a story about a coming of age for a young Eskimo who lives near the North Pole and learns how to hunt whales. Alejandro is currently working on the artwork frames for this story, and the book ought to be available sometime early next year.
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Join the shepherd in How Flowers Got Their Colors, a heartfelt story about how dreams, persistence, and a touch of magic can change the world around us. This charming story reminds us that even the simplest wishes can bring remarkable change.
How Flowers Got Their Colors
How Flowers Got Their Colors follows a young shepherd living in a quiet valley where the world is stuck in just three colors. Everything is green, blue, or yellow, and the flowers are plain white. One day, he sees a rainbow after a storm and dreams of capturing those colors to brighten the meadow. After many failed attempts, a bit of clever thinking, and some patience, he finally gathers the rainbow’s magic in his bucket. He pours it into the stream, and suddenly the flowers and everything around him burst into color. It’s simple, whimsical, and full of wonder.
I found myself smiling at how childlike and hopeful the shepherd felt. The writing isn’t complicated, and I like that. It’s a fun bedtime story. The repetition of him trying and failing before finally figuring out how to “sneak up” on the rainbow made me laugh. It carries a sweet message about patience and persistence without ever hammering the point too hard.
The idea of color spilling out into the world and changing everything, even the shepherd’s coat, is delightful. That moment is the kind of payoff kids love because it feels magical and surprising. I also enjoyed how the story leaned into imagination more than logic. Catching colors in a bucket is such a playful idea, and that’s exactly what makes it charming. It made me think of those times as a kid when I’d stare at a rainbow and wonder if I could touch it. The artwork in this picture book is eye-catching. The artwork is full of details that make the valley and the rainbow come alive. I especially liked how the white world transformed into a burst of colors.
I’d recommend this charming children’s book to parents who love reading short, cozy stories with their kids at night. It’s also a great fit for little ones who enjoy whimsical tales with a bit of magic and a happy ending. It feels like a story you’d remember long after because of its gentle charm.
Pages: 38 | ASIN : B0FC1XT5BS
LITERARY TITAN 