The beautiful message of diversity, acceptance and inclusion in this lovely book is a much needed message for all children right now!
Dan DeLion is not allowed to go to the annual flower festival, because he is a weed. Iris, his best friend, manages to get him into the gala, but Dan is definitely not welcomed. During a speech at the Festival, Ritzy Rose proclaims, "This Festival was supposed to be for cultivated flowers only!" But, with Iris standing up for her friend Dan DeLion, the flowers learn how truly wonderful Dan DeLion is and that festivals, parties, and life itself, should never be for "Flowers Only."
Goldberg, Barry: - Barry Goldberg has a passion to entertain and educate kids. He has worked as a professional artist/illustrator for over 30 years. After Art School he worked at a school and residential program for developmentally disabled children, in 1986 he got his big break working at Neal Adams Continuity studio in NYC. He then worked as a freelance illustrator... as a colorist at DC Comics, Illustrating packaging for toy companies including Nintendo, Mattel, Fisher Price...plus others. Since 1996 he has illustrated over 100 picture books mostly based on popular children's TV shows such as....Sesame Street, the Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Scholastic, and the Henson Company. In 2006 he accepted a position as Character Art Director/Head Illustrator at H.I.T Entertainment where he oversaw all character art relating to Thomas the Tank Engine, Barney, and Bob the Builder. Since 2014 Barry has worked at Sesame Workshop as a staff character artist drawing Elmo, Cookie Monster, Big Bird and the rest of the gang. In addition, Barry continues to work on outside projects that interest him and fulfill his passion to entertain and educate kids. Barry lives on Long Island, New York with his wife, who is a public school teacher. They have three grown children: 2 artists, 1 normal. I am a recently retired high school English teacher. What I miss most about teaching is that wry smile that lights a student's face when he or she grasps the meaning of a thought or theory. For like a dandelion's seed, there is no telling where the wind will carry that awareness.
Mazzarella, Mimi: - As an author, Mimi's desire has always been to write books that children explain to adults. For inside a child there is a world of fantasy (and truth) that grownups have long forgotten. As a child, Mimi was encouraged by her mother to see the invisible and do the impossible. Then, as a mother herself, she witnessed the imaginary thoughts and worlds of children through her sons, Joe and Mike. Now it's hergrandchildren, Aidan and Taylor, who-with their whimsies and visions, have taken me her to faraway lands where flowers speak, dance, laugh and learn! Mimi is a recently retired high school English teacher. What she misses most about teaching is that wry smile that lights a student's face when he or she grasps the meaning of a thought or theory. For like a dandelion's seed, there is no telling where the wind will carry that awareness. In 2017, Mimi released her first children's book, Flowers Only No Weeds Allowed at The BookExpo, BookCon in NYC.
