MAX’S MAGIC SEEDS

A special gift makes a boy a local celebrity. In his small French village, young Max waits anxiously for his favorite uncle, Bill, to arrive for Max’s birthday party. Bill, a botanist by trade, pulls up in his big yellow bus and, after a hug, gives Max a big bag of various flower seeds to scatter. Max starts the next morning, and spends nearly a week tossing seeds all around the cobbled streets and sidewalks. Nothing happens right away; Max begins to give up hope, but then . . . stems and buds and finally flowers bloom all around. The village is transformed into a riot of color and a mélange of lovely aromas. Max becomes a hero, receiving a citation from the mayor. Corderoch’s elaborate watercolor illustrations greatly enhance Elschner’s straightforward tale, whose prose might be out of reach for younger readers. (Picture book. 6-9)