June Bloomed Anyway

‘June Bloomed Anyway’ by Ivy Strohmaier, illustrated by Cara McFarlane Varela, is the story of a California poppy named June. Her family has been part of Ms. Beansprout’s garden for more than 30 years, and June is happy with the way things are. She lives alongside her mother, father, and her little brother. One day, though, Ms. Beansprout decides to change her garden, taking June’s father and some of June’s cousins away to be re-planted elsewhere. While June tries to stop this from happening, her cries are unheard (she is a poppy, after all).

The story is one of grief, but also one of understanding and kindness, as her mother tries to reassure her that everything will be okay, and that her father is safe, despite not being with them any longer. When one can’t be with a loved one, it’s important to realize that memories can keep that person near, from knowing the way they perform a certain activity or walk a certain path, much like June feels the breeze upon her in the garden. She can be with him in her dreams, and she can know that despite their distance, their love still blooms.

The illustrations highlight both the contentment and sadness that the poppies—especially June—feel when her father is replanted across the way. It also shows her growth as she learns how to cope with not having him near. It is a sweet and relevant story for anyone missing someone, and anyone who enjoys personification, as the poppies come alive and share their sorrows and dreams with each other.

JUNE BLOOMED ANYWAY is a beautiful kids book written by Ivy Strohmaier and illustrated by Cara McFarlane Varela. The story follows June, a young poppy flower who lives in a garden with her family. One day, the gardener picks June’s father and some cousins and plants them in another place where June can’t see them anymore. As a result, June has to learn how to live without them, finding some relief from dream visits and realizing they all share the same wind.

This story is such a gentle hug for anyone, especially a young child, dealing with loss of any kind— whether a friend or family member has passed away and they’re facing death for the first time, whether they’ve had to move away from their normal home and aren’t going to see all the people they’re used to seeing, or whether their parents are going through a divorce and the changes feel scary. JUNE BLOOMED ANYWAY teaches us that it’s okay and our tears will provide water for our growth.

Set against the beautiful backdrop of a California poppy garden, the illustrations are just as comforting as Strohmaier’s words. The colors are bright, warm, and hopeful, inviting readers to come in and take a seat in the sun alongside June. There are even a few pages with leaves blowing in the wind, which gives the subtle feeling of changing seasons, also a totally normal part of life— in essence providing the subtext that the ebb and flow of the world is inevitable, and what we can control is how we react to it.

JUNE BLOOMED ANYWAY is really a profound metaphor that can offer comfort to people of all ages. Because of that, it’s a story that should be on everyone’s bookshelves, and I look forward to more collaboration from these artists.