Dandelions

This was a very well written text, slightly longer than most picture books, but a book that expertly explains a life that would be almost incomprehensible for people like myself. I certainly wouldn't exchange my life for that of these people, though I admire their perseverance for doing what they had to in order to make a life for themselves. Bunting does an excellent job of creating a narrative that allows the reader to experience the true hardship of life on the prairie without leaving the reader depressed and empty. She pushes the theme of hope against difficult circumstances throughout the text and I think it's this story's saving grace, just as hope would have been the saving grace of many settlers forced to consider a life such as show more the one described in this book. show less

In my opinion this is a satisfactory book. The author’s illustrations are absolutely beautiful and really help the reader to understand what life was back out west in the 1800s. My favorite picture is where the viewer is looking at the back of the wagon pulling the cow, and the little girls are in the back of the wagon with their mother. The illustration helps the reader to picture the characters attire, as well as the lack of roads back in the 1800s. I think to many students this would be unexpected, and because of this, these illustrations are vital in the child’s understanding of the text. In addition to the beautiful pictures, the plot is ridden with conflict, which makes this book hard to put down. This is evident from the very show more first passage in the book. “Sometimes a river was easy to cross and sometimes hard, with Brownie and Blackie so frightened as they swam, and us holding on to them and the wagon too.” The constant conflicts and resolutions create great interest in the reader making the book all the more engaging. Overall, I think the main idea of this book is to never loose hope, and keep looking for the positives. show less

“Dandelions” is a story about a family starting their life in a new place in the 1800’s and how families need to stick together and have hope. They are in a place much different from home and the mother is always sad but she needs to realize all the great things around her. Mama is upset because all she sees is “sameness.” Any direction you look all you see is grass. However, Zoe finds dandelions and plants them on their roof. Although this is such a small thing, the dandelions represent the beautiful life that they can live there and how they can shape this new place into their home. This story shows children that families need to support each other through difficult times and find beauty and happiness in simple things. These show more dandelions are just the start but could soon spread into more dandelions allowing Mama to love her new home. show less

Dandelions, by Eve Bunting, illustrated by Greg Shed
Zoe's family is moving to the Nebraska territory. They travel for weeks in a covered wagon pulled by oxen. They are excited about settling in a new place, although they're a little sad to leave their old home. Father has plans to dig a well, put in crops, and build a special house, called a soddie with an earth roof.

But Mama is feeling lonely. There are no other families nearby, and no trees. The endless swaying of the grass sounds in her ears all day, and is all a person can see in any direction. Zoe has never seen her mother so sad.

When Zoe goes into town, she scoops up some dandelions and carefully brings them home to plant on the roof of their soddie. In the morning, they are show more drooping. "Their roots have to take hold, it's not easy being transplanted" Papa says. "Maybe they'll never bloom," says Mama. But Zoe responds, "They'll bloom, Mama. They're strong, like us." show less

This is an extraordinary book about a family's journey to Nebraska Territory in the 1880's. As the family starts their new life on the prairie the mother fights with a sadness that is only dispensed when a trip from town and daughter Zoe bring happiness back into her heart. As Zoe plants the dandelions on the roof of their meager home by the end of the book the roof is lit up with the yellow beauties and it looks like things might just work out. The journey is very factual and historical. Many can relate who have left the city to make a home in the country as to how hard it is to adapt.

I think that this is an okay children's book. I do like this book because of the illustrations. I like that they are like oil paintings because it compliments the time period of the book and creates interest. I also like that this book follows a family during this time. It gives a lot of insight into the perspective of each family member and the hardships they face. I think it is a good book to describe the time period. I think the main message of this book is to never give up hope.

50 months - Very much Little House-esque. Well written and illustrated to get the sense of a vast lonely land in the prairie. The gift and the end result (which would have required great patience) was beautiful.