Benjamin Flouw

A keen amateur botanist and hiker, Fox is absolutely delighted to discover the existence of "the Golden Glow," a flower so rare it has never been sketched or photographed. Setting out on a quest to find this flower and add it to his collection, Fox is aided in his search by Bear, Marmot and Mountain Goat, eventually arriving at the summit of the nearby mountain. Here he discovers the much-sought flower, but decides to leave it in its pristine alpine state, sketching it instead of picking show more (and thereby killing) it...

Originally published in France as La Milléclat dorée, and translated into English by the Toronto-based Kids Can Press, The Golden Glow is author/illustrator Benjamin Flouw's first book, but I certainly hope it won't be his last! The story is engaging, managing to be both informative - there are pages where different kinds of trees and flowers encountered by Fox on his hike are identified - and entertaining as well. The artwork, created using both digital and painted elements, has an immensely appealing collage-style charm, reminding at times of Jon Klassen. Recommended to all young would-be botanists and/or fox lovers, and to anyone looking for interesting new picture-books in translation. show less

This is one of the most charming children's books I have had the pleasure to review in a LONG time! I loved every page. My children loved it as well, requesting it multiple times as a read aloud.

Fox loves to look at his flower field guide. He enjoys and appreciates the beauty of nature. His journey in search of the illusive Golden Glow flower tests his perseverance. However, even when he reaches the top of the mountain without finding the flower you get the sense that he is happy to have show more taken the journey just the same. Just when you think he won't find it however, there it is! It is beautiful, it is actually glowing! (special sparkle paper is added to the book for a lovely effect.

Does fox pick this flower? NO! Instead, he notebooks all about it. When he returns home he adds his notes to his flower field guid so as to always be able to remember his journey. Perfect as a way to teach children about nature study and notebooking.

I enjoyed the characters, the fun "sciency" learning pages sprinkled throughout, and the slightly dry humor. (The wolf says he was as hungry as a wolf. My kids found this hilarious.) The sciency learning pages covered: what to bring on a hiking journey, types of woodland flowers, the levels of a mountain, and trees.

The illustrations are enchanting. It is one of the books you will find your children staring at, just thinking and looking at the pictures.

The book is well made and a good size for holding. The paper is sturdy and the printing is lovely.

I received this book through LibraryThing's Early Reviewer Program. I was not required to give a positive review and all opinions are my own... or those of my children. :) show less

This book is a beautiful book for a couple reasons, first, it is written about someone who loves their home and garden but who wants to adventure (rather than putter around in their own yard), second, it highlights the value of effort that provides intangible rewards. This book helps those who love their homes to venture out to discover new things, without undermining the love of the familiar. Similarly, the hero, who is searching for a special, almost mystical flower, learns to appreciate show more the effort it took to find it, even if he cannot take it home. It is a wonderful, and uniquely illustrated book. show less

This is a beautiful book about the beauty and diversity of Nature. Fox love plants and while reading an old botany book, he finds a flower called The Golden Glow. He was not familiar with this flower, so decides he is going to head off to find one. I like how the author and illustrator labeled some of their illustrations. While packing for his trip, trees and flowers along the way with their seeds and leaves are all labeled. He meets up with some friends along the way who help him in his show more quest. He finally finds the flower he was looking for up on the top of the mountain. He decided that it was so beautiful, that he should leave it where it was. He observed it, drew it, labeled it and put it in his book for others to see. A book showing appreciation of nature in a simple form. It could be read to a class beginning a unit on plants and animals, studying the environment and how to protect it as well as those who just love plants, flowers and trees. My grandson noticed that most of the illustrations were done with geometric shapes. The story did not interest him as much as the illustrations, but he is only 4. I think this book would be good to read to primary aged children up to about 10 or 11. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley. show less