Alfred Blooms

Shy Alfred wants to befriend the girl whose yard is filled with other kids and flowers but he doesn't know how.

 When Alfred sees Lulu’s magical yard filled with flowers and friends, he’s sure that if he can cultivate a beautiful garden, friends will flock to join him. Alfred tries but nothing grows in his brown patch of dirt. Determined to make one last attempt, Alfred heads to the store to buy fresh flower seeds. As he hurries home, he sneezes—and the seeds fly everywhere! And this time they begin to grow wherever they land—in his pockets, in his hair, even in his ears! A very discouraged Alfred gets stuck in the mud.  But the aroma of warm blueberry muffins coming from a nearby bakery reminds him of Lulu’s favorite treat and, tucking the flowers under his hat, he heads there. Alfred shares muffins with Lulu and finds out that he doesn’t need a garden; time spent together is the best way to make a friend.

    This charming friendship story is sensitive and delightful with just a touch of whimsy."Readers will empathize with Alfred’s plight in this multilayered story and cheer him on as he grows from floundering to flourishing." —BooklistCarrie Kruck grew up in Canada, worked as a psychologist in Australia, and now lives in the words of New England with a delightful assortment of foxes, owls, bears, and beloved humans. She loves swimming in lakes, snowshoeing in forests, and growing food in her garden (which she inevitably shares with an assortment of creatures.)

Carmen Mok is an award-winning illustrator who previous works include Cone Cat and When I Listen to Silence. She lives in Toronto, Ontario with her husband and two cat “studio managers.”