![Hope for the Flowers [With Recorded by Trina Paulus]](http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171345275m/96629.jpg "Hope for the Flowers [With Recorded by Trina Paulus]")
This classic story is celebrating its 38th anniversary. "Hope for the Flowers" is an inspiring allegory about the realization of one's true destiny...
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Jan 09, 2009
Mike
rated it: 
A girlfriend gave me this book once.
At the time, I was living on an island of about two hundred people, teaching English. A foolish, miserable task--the kind of "good-for-you" intervention bound up in so many good intentions that the inevitable crass exploitation and inadequate resourcing and nonexistent long-term vision and full-on horseshit stupidity seem, in hindsight, a necessary cosmic counter-balancing. Ostensibly, I was teaching English and helping the other Engl More...
At the time, I was living on an island of about two hundred people, teaching English. A foolish, miserable task--the kind of "good-for-you" intervention bound up in so many good intentions that the inevitable crass exploitation and inadequate resourcing and nonexistent long-term vision and full-on horseshit stupidity seem, in hindsight, a necessary cosmic counter-balancing. Ostensibly, I was teaching English and helping the other Engl More...
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(32 people liked it)
Sep 18, 2007
Lori
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this book is written like a childrens book, but for adults. Very reminicent of Esops fables....
I first read it back in high school, a friend saw me looking it over, and then went back and bought it for me. Its very touching....
Its about one catapillar who, unlike the others, isnt happy just eating leaves and climbing the catapillar-pillar. He stops to wonder "why".... he questions everything around him.
Its a little about love, and growing into your More...
I first read it back in high school, a friend saw me looking it over, and then went back and bought it for me. Its very touching....
Its about one catapillar who, unlike the others, isnt happy just eating leaves and climbing the catapillar-pillar. He stops to wonder "why".... he questions everything around him.
Its a little about love, and growing into your More...
3 comments
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(7 people liked it)
Aug 03, 2008
booklady
rated it: 
I have loved this book ever since high school when a very special friend shared it with me. It’s been a long time since I read it, but it never fails to charm.
Recently I went on a hunt for it in this jungle house of books, but without success. I know I have a ratty old paperback copy somewhere but I can’t find it. So I checked it out from the library and read it again with profound enjoyment and peace.
It’s that kind of book—a peaceful book. It’s a book which reminds us th More...
Recently I went on a hunt for it in this jungle house of books, but without success. I know I have a ratty old paperback copy somewhere but I can’t find it. So I checked it out from the library and read it again with profound enjoyment and peace.
It’s that kind of book—a peaceful book. It’s a book which reminds us th More...
3 comments
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(4 people liked it)
Oct 18, 2007
Tom
rated it:
Hope for the Flowers presents a wonderful, charming tale of two caterpillars (Stripe and Yellow) trying to get to the top.
Beguiled at first by a misguided attempt to climb on the heads of their fellow caterpillars (who have commingled into an enormous "caterpillar pillar" that ascends into the sky), Yellow and Stripe eventually abandon the pillar for the simple lives of eating and rolling around on the ground. But Stripe can't contain his curiosity about the pillar, and aba More...
Beguiled at first by a misguided attempt to climb on the heads of their fellow caterpillars (who have commingled into an enormous "caterpillar pillar" that ascends into the sky), Yellow and Stripe eventually abandon the pillar for the simple lives of eating and rolling around on the ground. But Stripe can't contain his curiosity about the pillar, and aba More...
Aug 25, 2007
Merlyna
rated it:
Simple but grand. Sweet but really touching. Makes you smile, laugh, and cry. I would recommend every adult I know to read this book. Just read it and you'll understand why I love this book so much.
I actually re-drew all pictures in the book and turned them into various big posters for a story-telling at one Summer School for teenagers in my neighborhood, back in Bandung, Indonesia. You wouldn't believe me, but as I were telling the story, that such simple story, almost all kids wer More...
I actually re-drew all pictures in the book and turned them into various big posters for a story-telling at one Summer School for teenagers in my neighborhood, back in Bandung, Indonesia. You wouldn't believe me, but as I were telling the story, that such simple story, almost all kids wer More...
5 comments
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(6 people liked it)
Feb 09, 2009
Yen
rated it:
This book is really nice.. My prof assigned me this in english lesson..I don't know how to report this bcoz I want the whole class to love and appreciate it the way I read and understand but didn't find the words to say.. It's just one of the inspiring book iv'e read..
Lessons I learned is that to be able to achieve your goals and to be happy.. you just have to be yourself and not to step on someone..because true happiness is that to be kind to everyone.. It's always happening nowada More...
Lessons I learned is that to be able to achieve your goals and to be happy.. you just have to be yourself and not to step on someone..because true happiness is that to be kind to everyone.. It's always happening nowada More...
Jul 13, 2008
Spudsie
rated it:
Wow. I had almost forgotten about this book. I was trying to find room in my (seriously overcrowded) bookshelves for a book I had just finished reading and ran into this one tucked away—waiting patiently to be rediscovered.
The book itself is a beautifully written and delightfully illustrated allegory of a caterpillar named Spike and his companion Yellow. It tells of Spike’s struggle to find…..well……happiness. Or perhaps more accurately (as I’m learning), to choose happiness.
More...
The book itself is a beautifully written and delightfully illustrated allegory of a caterpillar named Spike and his companion Yellow. It tells of Spike’s struggle to find…..well……happiness. Or perhaps more accurately (as I’m learning), to choose happiness.
More...
Mar 23, 2008
Naomi
rated it:
My boyfriend gave me an old copy of this book that he was about to throw out. I kept it, but didn't read it. It was obvious from the pictures and the title that it was a "Flower Child" book, and I figured I'd read it eventually.
Now I have read it. The timing on reading this book is so strange because at this moment in my life I am EXACTLY like "Stripe", one of the caterpillers in this story. I know something in my life needs to change, and I'm making my way down More...
Now I have read it. The timing on reading this book is so strange because at this moment in my life I am EXACTLY like "Stripe", one of the caterpillers in this story. I know something in my life needs to change, and I'm making my way down More...
Feb 27, 2009
Adam
rated it: 
I thought the book was pretty cute..I enjoyed the metaphor on life of followling suit and climbing for what everyone else is without thinking for yourself. It's a kids book with an adult story...everyone can benefit from reading this. At the same time, it wasn't that overwhelmingly good, but I def. enjoyed it.
May 24, 2008
Shannon
rated it:
This allegory coudln't be more unsubtle. Unless at the end the author was like "and like, the caterpillars, are actually like, PEOPLE. And the strive to the top is like, our struggle in life. And like, being a butterfly is..." etc. The illustrations were cutesie pie though. This is such a hippie book I don't even know what else to say. It's hard to hate on such cheesy idealism.... I felt like I should be more impressed by the cute, universal message, than I was. Maybe it'd help if I wa
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3 comments
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(2 people liked it)
Oct 24, 2007
Baiocco
rated it:
where did this book come from? One day I sat down for a hearty bowel movement and flipped through Sports Illustrated, and the next day...This little yellow bit of sunshine. Two culprits: my ex-roomate--a substitute gradeschool teacher at the time, and arts and crafts guru; my ex-girlfriend--comic artist savant and soon-to-be librarian.
Evidence mounted on both sides.
At the end of the day it didn't matter, because sometimes I want to commit suicide. Flat out. End it al More...
Evidence mounted on both sides.
At the end of the day it didn't matter, because sometimes I want to commit suicide. Flat out. End it al More...
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(2 people liked it)
Dec 05, 2011
Giane
rated it:
*This review was originally posted in my blog, http://gianecortazar.blogspot.com
I have been searching for this book for quite a while. It's been a part of my personal reading list, but getting a copy was kind of hard because it's always either out of stock or the book store doesn't carry it all.
So random ADD moment: are good books really that hard to come by nowadays?
Anyway, so when I finally found a copy of the book, I did not hesitate even if this particular book More...
I have been searching for this book for quite a while. It's been a part of my personal reading list, but getting a copy was kind of hard because it's always either out of stock or the book store doesn't carry it all.
So random ADD moment: are good books really that hard to come by nowadays?
Anyway, so when I finally found a copy of the book, I did not hesitate even if this particular book More...
Feb 23, 2008
Elyse
rated it:
My father actually gave me this book so it has special connotations for me through sentimentality. The simple story is spectacular and sweet; touching on concepts such as isolation, peer pressure, independence, fear of change, prejudice and many more...yes this little book really does all that. I've read it at least four times to my daughter and every time she can apply its simple storyline to what ever happens to be going on in her ever changing, ever growing life
Jun 29, 2011
Tserisa
rated it:
This is the very first book I ever read all by myself, without someone sitting with me and helping me through it. I had just turned seven years old.
When I was a child, I actually had difficulty learning to read. This was a shock to everyone, really, because I pretended to read constantly to my little sister, and absolutely loved being read to. My parents were voracious readers, who read to me constantly. I had to take some classes for extra help in first grade.
In second g More...
When I was a child, I actually had difficulty learning to read. This was a shock to everyone, really, because I pretended to read constantly to my little sister, and absolutely loved being read to. My parents were voracious readers, who read to me constantly. I had to take some classes for extra help in first grade.
In second g More...
Mar 10, 2008
Hayley
rated it:
This is a children's book that is clearly from the time of hippies. It is new agey and goofy, but I still love it. I found it at the house of a girl I take care of, and was surprised by it when I read it to her. It touched me and hit me in a place that I didn't realize existed. I enjoyed it and I think others would, too (just don't take it too seriously, it is what it is). I also would like to say that I absolutely love the name of this book.
3 comments
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(2 people liked it)
May 11, 2007
Laura
rated it:
This book is deceptively simple. It's for anyone in a relationship, anyone who wonders "is there more to life?", anyone who is trying to personally grow and to find themselves. Does that leave anyone out? It's sort of like a therapy fable. It took about 30 minutes to read, and it's the kind of book that you keep in your bedstand to pull out whenever you need to remind yourself that growth hurts and change can be very scary.
5 comments
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(2 people liked it)
Sep 19, 2009
jess
rated it:
I found this in the Adult Graphic Novel section of the public library, where I spent a good amount of time waiting for my stepson to pick out a handful of graphic novels about zombies, nazis, demons and Ronald Reagan. The illustrations are cheery in that 1970s bright yellow free love drawing style. The moral of the story is crystal, crystal clear. This is one of those 1970s love/peace/social justice stories, with an allegorical pair of caterpillars who learn a (not so) surprising lesson about pr
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May 23, 2008
Tortla
rated it:
This was not a very subtle hippie-allegory. The drawings were rather cute, though. And it was amusing. I'm not entirely sure if the amusing-ness was intentional...I think it was sometimes, but at other times it was unintentionally funny, which is kind of funnier than intentional funny. I don't recommend it to children, though.
Feb 22, 2008
Fruitz
rated it:
i love butteflies and reading this reader friendly story (simple language plus the aid of the picture) made me appreciate all the more butterflies.
this also is a constant reminder to me that beautiful things are not always to be sought after, sometimes we just have to wait.
this also is a constant reminder to me that beautiful things are not always to be sought after, sometimes we just have to wait.
2 comments
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(2 people liked it)
Feb 10, 2010
Susan
rated it:
I read this book today after a co-worker brought it to work with her.
After reading it, I wasn't sure what kind of life lesson I was supposed to take away from it. My friend who brought it said she found it in the Christian section of the book so I went in with the idea that I was going to be told to believe in God. But... That didn't really make sence with what the caterpillars were doing so... I read about the author and when she wrote the book (after loosing someone close) and More...
After reading it, I wasn't sure what kind of life lesson I was supposed to take away from it. My friend who brought it said she found it in the Christian section of the book so I went in with the idea that I was going to be told to believe in God. But... That didn't really make sence with what the caterpillars were doing so... I read about the author and when she wrote the book (after loosing someone close) and More...
Feb 04, 2011
Mary
rated it:
This is a fabulous book on being different. I read it to my class and they loved it.
2 comments
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(1 person liked it)
Sep 05, 2011
Zana
rated it:
One packs six books for a long weekend in Shenandoah, but one reckons without the fabulous little used bookstore in Luray, VA. I am told it has a wonderful selection of fantasy and scifi upstairs, but I started in the religion and philosophy section and only got through a shelf and a half before Kelly insisted it was time to leave. Probably a good thing, too, since I bought 5 books there.
This is a sweet little story about caterpillars and butterflies and the rate race and faith in More...
This is a sweet little story about caterpillars and butterflies and the rate race and faith in More...
Feb 19, 2011
Arizel紫
rated it: 
I am holding a grudge against this book. "Why on earth this is a high school english class requirement???" Come on.. There are tons of good literary works for high school (Okay, fine. No harry potter coz' it wasn't even allowed in school.... confiscated... but you'll see teachers reading them in the faculty).. I graduated high school without learning what are the literary winners, those hard-to-read classics and literary works that carved the history of literary works... Why did I grad
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Nov 26, 2011
Jared Vincent
rated it:
I've first read this book when I was like ten. It's been how many years now, and I still think that it's fantastic.
This books is about the journey of two caterpillars, Stripe and Yellow, and the obstacles and problems that they faced before they both became butterflies.
The story is simple, but beautiful and realistic. It's about learning to give up and let go. How each ending offers a new beginning. It's about taking risks. And the desire to see something more.
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This books is about the journey of two caterpillars, Stripe and Yellow, and the obstacles and problems that they faced before they both became butterflies.
The story is simple, but beautiful and realistic. It's about learning to give up and let go. How each ending offers a new beginning. It's about taking risks. And the desire to see something more.
More...
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