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Dandylion
Dandylion is not only the new student in school, he is different from the other students, and only with everyone making an effort does he fit in.
- GenresPicture Books
28 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 18, 2019
A sweet and artistic book about inclusion and being different.
The art is definitely something that could be used in conversation with children, as Dandelion slowly adds colour into the black and white lives of his school friends.
The art is definitely something that could be used in conversation with children, as Dandelion slowly adds colour into the black and white lives of his school friends.
October 27, 2020
I love the artwork in this book and the way Dandylion gradually brings colour into the Miss Gardner's black and white classroom. Inspiring themes of friendship and inclusion that would make brilliant discussion points in a classroom.
July 17, 2019
#cbad 2018-2019 - 5th grade SCA - 10/11/18 - average rating 4.5
December 22, 2020
Reflections and lessons learned:
The tag line of ‘being different is special’ is perfect - we all sometimes need to be the wild flower growing in the wrong place - lovely!
The tag line of ‘being different is special’ is perfect - we all sometimes need to be the wild flower growing in the wrong place - lovely!
April 30, 2013
I bought 'Dandylion' for my daughter's bookshelf as soon as we read the story together at the bookstore. I was (and continue to be) moved, delighted and recognized immediately how all the concepts of raising the whole child, problems that can arise in our current school system, the stifle of conformity and wise words at the right time are all rolled up in this one simple book.
The front cover says it all with colouring outside the lines: freedom to be in the moment creating rather than conforming. Although there may be a time to gain the skill of ‘colouring inside the lines’ Lizzie Finlay reveals the spirit of joy and embracing a larger than life child rather than shutting down a free spirit.
Finlay is very purposeful with every detail in capturing our attention and making us think about why we do some of the things we do.
She begins with the new students' name, Dandylion.
Dandelion: a weed that most frantically pull out, cut, spray and do almost anything to get rid when truly they are absolutely nutritious and delicious when you know their value and what to do with them.
Our 'troublesome' kids are often treated in similar ways. Rather than being refreshed and nourished by their outside the box way of being, they are often medicated, isolated, sent away, squeezed out or conformed into something they are because society/culture has been told what is normal and what is not.
"Dandylion" gives us an idea of what it’s like to be a bit outrageously different, what it feels like to be squeezed out, how valuable it is to have wise advice at the right time and what it means to have strength of will.
With this book there is ample opportunity for rich discussions with our little people, at different stages in their life. "Dandylion" is a book that can be pulled off the shelf to help our little ones deal with a difficult situation with peers, to help understand someone who is a bit exquisitely different and a reminder for parents to make adjustments rather than adjusting our little ones when they don’t fit the mold.
As is the case with well thought out and splendidly written children's books, Finlay's message is clear and appreciated. I highly recommend this book for every age and stage. It's simply dandy.
The front cover says it all with colouring outside the lines: freedom to be in the moment creating rather than conforming. Although there may be a time to gain the skill of ‘colouring inside the lines’ Lizzie Finlay reveals the spirit of joy and embracing a larger than life child rather than shutting down a free spirit.
Finlay is very purposeful with every detail in capturing our attention and making us think about why we do some of the things we do.
She begins with the new students' name, Dandylion.
Dandelion: a weed that most frantically pull out, cut, spray and do almost anything to get rid when truly they are absolutely nutritious and delicious when you know their value and what to do with them.
Our 'troublesome' kids are often treated in similar ways. Rather than being refreshed and nourished by their outside the box way of being, they are often medicated, isolated, sent away, squeezed out or conformed into something they are because society/culture has been told what is normal and what is not.
"Dandylion" gives us an idea of what it’s like to be a bit outrageously different, what it feels like to be squeezed out, how valuable it is to have wise advice at the right time and what it means to have strength of will.
With this book there is ample opportunity for rich discussions with our little people, at different stages in their life. "Dandylion" is a book that can be pulled off the shelf to help our little ones deal with a difficult situation with peers, to help understand someone who is a bit exquisitely different and a reminder for parents to make adjustments rather than adjusting our little ones when they don’t fit the mold.
As is the case with well thought out and splendidly written children's books, Finlay's message is clear and appreciated. I highly recommend this book for every age and stage. It's simply dandy.
August 21, 2011
The drawings are fantastic in this book, this is the authors first book and she was previously an illustrator for many years so the text and the pictures match up perfectly.
The book is about a new pupil who comes to school called Dandylion. He is as his name suggests a combination of a dandelion and a lion so he looks very different to the other children. The book talks about his experience at school and how he doesn’t behave as the other children behave and often gets into trouble simply because he doesn’t know better. On occasions he gets the other children into trouble with his antics which leads him to get sent home from school. His wise grandpa cheers him up and teaches him that its ok to be different to the other children. The children miss him greatly as he brings life and change into their classroom and greet him joyously on his return to school.
The story is brilliant as its key message is that everyone is different and everyone is special, the children in the book learn to appreciate dandylion’s differences and miss him when he is gone. This makes it an excellent book to use to show the children to respect one another’s differences (be it race, religion, language etc) and to embrace them. It teaches about tolerance, acceptance and diversity on a level which children can understand.
The book is about a new pupil who comes to school called Dandylion. He is as his name suggests a combination of a dandelion and a lion so he looks very different to the other children. The book talks about his experience at school and how he doesn’t behave as the other children behave and often gets into trouble simply because he doesn’t know better. On occasions he gets the other children into trouble with his antics which leads him to get sent home from school. His wise grandpa cheers him up and teaches him that its ok to be different to the other children. The children miss him greatly as he brings life and change into their classroom and greet him joyously on his return to school.
The story is brilliant as its key message is that everyone is different and everyone is special, the children in the book learn to appreciate dandylion’s differences and miss him when he is gone. This makes it an excellent book to use to show the children to respect one another’s differences (be it race, religion, language etc) and to embrace them. It teaches about tolerance, acceptance and diversity on a level which children can understand.
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November 16, 2014Dandylion by Lizzie Finlay (Red Fox)
This book is about a lion who starts a new school. He is fun and friendly but he is always getting into mischief and getting himself and the other children into trouble. The other children soon get fed up of getting into trouble and blame Dandylion and call him “crazy and a weed”. Dandylion doesn’t want to go to school anymore and the other children miss him. His granddad tells him that we all need special people in our lives and tells him he is not a weed but a beautiful wild flower. He returns to school where the children are happy to see him.
This books main theme is friendship and acceptance of the diversity of others. It highlights that differences are good and it is these differences which make us special.
This book is aimed at key stage one but the inference involved in the book would make it equally suitable to children in key stage two.
I would use this book in a topic about “Ourselves” to celebrate differences. I would also use it in Anti-bullying week to tackle the issue of leaving someone out, and developing an understanding of how that feels. I would also use it if somebody was being left out by his or her peers in the class.
This book is about a lion who starts a new school. He is fun and friendly but he is always getting into mischief and getting himself and the other children into trouble. The other children soon get fed up of getting into trouble and blame Dandylion and call him “crazy and a weed”. Dandylion doesn’t want to go to school anymore and the other children miss him. His granddad tells him that we all need special people in our lives and tells him he is not a weed but a beautiful wild flower. He returns to school where the children are happy to see him.
This books main theme is friendship and acceptance of the diversity of others. It highlights that differences are good and it is these differences which make us special.
This book is aimed at key stage one but the inference involved in the book would make it equally suitable to children in key stage two.
I would use this book in a topic about “Ourselves” to celebrate differences. I would also use it in Anti-bullying week to tackle the issue of leaving someone out, and developing an understanding of how that feels. I would also use it if somebody was being left out by his or her peers in the class.
May 1, 2010
When I was lingering around the library, waiting for a talk I was attending to begin, a librarian told me and my friends we could look at the books on sale. We choose to flick through a stack of picture books, because... well, just because it's been so long since we've been able to read one!
Dandylion caught my eye because of the funky cover, and inside did not disappoint. The story was fun, lively and easy to read.
The moral of the story was very clear, but it didn't make the story seem at all preachy. I recommend this book to anyone. It's a perfect quick read, just a few minutes, if you spot it somewhere--you don't even have to buy it! And I think younger kids would truly benefit from hearing the story, perhaps before starting school/nursery?
The illustrations are also snappy and memorable... all in all a great book!
Dandylion caught my eye because of the funky cover, and inside did not disappoint. The story was fun, lively and easy to read.
The moral of the story was very clear, but it didn't make the story seem at all preachy. I recommend this book to anyone. It's a perfect quick read, just a few minutes, if you spot it somewhere--you don't even have to buy it! And I think younger kids would truly benefit from hearing the story, perhaps before starting school/nursery?
The illustrations are also snappy and memorable... all in all a great book!
June 4, 2011
good for very young children - nursery/p1s
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews