Be My Sunflower

A warm and reassuring picture book about finding your courage even when you'd rather play it safe.
The children are planting sunflowers at school and Carla gets given a seed called Vernon. All the other children's seeds are excited to get out of the packet and start growing. Not Vernon. He knows about slugs, and birds, and thunderstorms. The world is scary.

Carla waters him lovingly, but Vernon is the only seed that doesn't grow into a seedling. "Safe and snug, snug and safe," mutters Vernon, until he realizes how upset Carla is. Vernon understands that he needs to pluck up his courage, push himself out of the ground, and face the world. He needs to do it for Carla. And as Vernon blossoms into a sunflower, he discovers that although the world is not perfect, it can be ... wonderful.

Review: With sunny, colourful illustrations of children caring for their plants, this is a cheerful book about growth and being brave enough to try new experiences before judging. * The School Librarian *
A wonderful story about empathy. * Armadillo Magazine *
A lovely story about finding the courage to emerge from your comfort zone and take on the world. Its warmth and reassurance shine through like the sun. * Red Reading Hub *
This is such a lovely and fun story. The story has a lovely ending and a great message for children about overcoming fears of new experiences, and it's a book I'm sure will be enjoyed again and again. There's something so fun about the pictures and the story showing both the human perspective and then the seeds. A lovely book I do recommend. * The Strawberry Post *

Growing up can be tough. (...) This gently encouraging tale can serve as a model for young readers, even featuring a mantra to help kids persevere despite anxiety. (...)
Sweetly uplifting.