If you don't yet know the picture book character Mille Fleur, you should! Her illustrated persona is reminiscent of Wednesday Addams of THE ADDAMS FAMILY, with a much higher frequency of appealing smiles. Millie, we quickly see, enjoys gardening.
Where do we see this, you ask? |
| ORCHARD BOOKS, 2024 |
"For anyone who's ever felt a little bit weird.
The world is more interesting with you in it."
Millie's family moves into a neighborhood best described in "Little Boxes," written by Malvina Reynolds in 1962, (little boxes full of ticky-tacky, little boxes in a row). All alike, including their landscaping. Everything spotless, pruned, trim and true.
Everything except the new Fleur home. Millie and her thoroughly modern mom are happy there, except it doesn't feel like home until Mom hands Millie some packets of seeds. Images on the seed packs confirm our suspicions from the title... these are no ordinary plants.
Millie's well-tended garden thrives, complete with expressive faces, tentacles, snapping petals, and sprawling vines. What follows is also predictable, but in an entirely fun and metaphorical way. Something different is not only rejected by the majority but banned, condemned, utterly rejected. Even Millie's frog knows they could just leave it alone and BYOB, so to speak.
Millie wonders about conforming. Affirmed by her mom that she should do what makes her happy, Millie finds a way to win over the curious kids, to broaden their awareness and understanding of differences, their respect for allowing space for new and exciting visitors to the neighborhood.
Throughout the garden scenes, Millie's plants sport seemingly frightening names that reflect both exotic and recognizable plants, along with characterized expressions that elevate the humor over the potential for fear. The resolution is a delight and allows for every level of acceptance, even if only a tolerance for change among the most conservative.
Mille Fleur also has a PUMPKIN picture book and a PROBLEM picture book, both of which can join the POISON GARDEN to launch falls season of spookiness and spicy lattes. Even this synopsis reveals that the stories have their own tone of oddity to them, while presenting Mille and her mom as appealing and empathetic. Discussions are guaranteed, and back matter connects readers even more closely to their own interests and concerns.
Do yourselves a favor and make it point to meet Millie Fleur. Just avoid her salads!
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