As Spring approaches, Mother Earth wakes her sleepy children, deep below the earth, the children yawn and stretch. Soon their hands are busy, stitching new clothes in bright spring colours. The dust of the bumblebees, scrub the beetles and paint splendid new coats on the ladybirds. The children jubilantly emerge from the earth where they become the flowers of Spring. In rhyming verse and vibrant illustrations, this entrancing story touches on such themes as the rejuvenation and passing of the seasons, helping children understand the circle of life.

 

There are 32 pages in this book. This is a picture book. A picture book uses pictures and text to tell the story. The number of words varies from zero ('wordless') to around 1k over 32 pages. Picture books are typically aimed at young readers (age 3-6) but can also be aimed at older children (7+). This book was published 2008 by Breckling Press .

The Story of the Root Children is Sibylle von Olfers' (1881-1916) best known work. Her blend of natural observation and use of simple design has led to comparisons with Kate Greenaway and Elsa Beskow. Sibylle von Olfers is the author of the original German folk tale, Etwas von den Wurzelkindem, which sold 800, 000 copies in 1906 and exactly a century later Sieglinde Schoen Smith's quilted interpretation, Mother Earth & Her Children won the top prize at America's most prestigious quilt show. Jack Zipes, an acknowledged expert on folklore, has translated the text.