Sarah Stewart (1) (1939–)

An epistolary picture book! It's a really charming story of a girl who goes to live in the city during the Great Depression. The letters she writes home tell the story of her attempts to make her stern uncle smile by growing flowers.

I wish I owned a copy of every book the Stewart and Small duo have created.

Technically this title belongs on the Children's shelf. But I think it's a bona fide crossover tale that, while masquerading as another picture book, holds wisdom for all ages. What would happen if money grew on trees?

Simple and sweet, this book shows the life a book takes on for every individual reader. And having been to the NYC Public Library, I appreciated seeing the lions--which gave me an idea of where this book was set.