"Paralleling the planting of a garden in the fall and its blooming is the growth of a young girl and all the milestones that happen between fall and spring. Diesen never makes the comparison overt, which makes this book all the more delightful . The seemingly watercolor illustrations capture both the family members' love for one another and the beauty of the natural world. A lovely way of looking back on the year with a child who may not realize he or she has 'bloomed.'" -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review "Diesen's tender text captures whimsical moments during the seasons . Lundquist's warm and welcoming familial scenes, rendered in freewheeling brushstrokes of pastel tones, culminate in a lovely two-page spread depicting the progressive growth of the bulbs over the course of the year, followed by a burst of bright flowers when they finally bloom . This sunny paean to growth, both of the girl and the bed of flowers, is a heartwarming pick for a springtime read-aloud." -- Booklist "The delicate watercolors enhance this simple narrative and clearly illustrate the love between the girl and her mother .

Moms especially will find this tale about the passage of time most heartwarming." -- School Library Journal "In an uplifting story about growth, change, and a mother's love, Diesen draws a gentle parallel between the growth of bulbs . and way the daughter has herself developed. Diesen's understated, verselike text speaks to the beauty of everyday moments, while Lundquist's airy images depict the year's milestones with tenderness." -- Publishers Weekly.