About a little girl who struggles with making friends, despite her many talents and interests. She often finds herself excluded from group activities, and sometimes even teased by her peers. One night, as she shares her troubles with her mom, gives her some words of wisdom. Mom compares certain people to cacti and other plants. She explains that, like cacti, some people might appear appealing but can be harmful if you get too close. Mom elaborates by describing different types of plants and their unique qualities, suggesting that while some people might be like cacti with protective spines, others can be like willows, sunflowers, or dandelions, each with their own beauty and role in the world. I love books that teach social-emotional skills. Instead of encouraging the little girl to conform or change herself to fit in, the story promotes self-acceptance and the search for authentic connections. Everyone has a place, and every personality type brings value to the world, even if it might not always be compatible with yours. A lesson that is crucial for developing healthy self-esteem in children. This is perfect for the classroom, it sparked an interesting conversation with the third graders and they totally get the message. Also the book contains some interesting facts about different types of cacti, so we went down the cactus rabbit hole on YouTube and learned about different interesting cacti species 🌵 As a follow up homework assignment they each chose a different cacti species and will write a one page species profile (region, looks, it’s place in the eco system, characteristics, special uses, interesting facts, images etc) and then present it in front of the class. I love the message, it’s a great conversation starter and worked well as part of a larger lesson. Definitely recommend adding it to your Children’s Bookshelf!