FLOWERS FOR MAMA

Four kittens prepare gifts for their mother’s special day in this tender celebration of artmaking and family.

Freedman’s spare text follows siblings Oleander, Tulip, Herbie, and Blossom as they each create flower-related gifts for Mama. Blossom writes a song about flowers, Herbie constructs floral collages from “saved-up bits and scraps,” and Tulip experiments with printmaking to create her flowers. Oleander plants a seed but worries as Mama’s day approaches with no bloom in sight. The illustrations showcase Freedman’s masterful use of composition and color; early spreads employ muted grays and browns as the kittens work against a backdrop of textured brick walls and graph paper, their fur rendered in delicate graphite. After Tulip uses an orange crayon to create C-shapes for petals, washes of color begin appearing. She continues exploring on a vibrant double-page spread where she swishes and splatters with forks, creating an exuberant explosion of orange and pink blooms. Freedman demonstrates how negative space directs attention—a single kitten on a white backdrop draws the eye more powerfully than busy backgrounds. And though we never see Oleander’s flower blossom, gentle Mama praises his gift all the same. The quiet pacing and low text load make this ideal for the storytime crowd, while the process-focused narrative validates diverse creative approaches.

An enchanting story that honors both the artistic journey and the blooms that—eventually—result.