The boy with flowers in his hair by Jarvis

A simply told story of a boy for whom life has gone awry, getting back on his feet with the help of friends will appeal to younger readers, who sometimes become aware that unexpected things can happen in life upsetting its equilibrium.

Told by David’s best friend, the story focusses on the flowers in his hair. David is the best of friends and the two are inseparable, running, jumping in puddles, fleeing form the bees, washing David’s hair. But one day some petals fall out, and that afternoon, he is quiet and does not want to play. The next day David wears a hat and when he takes it off his hair is spiky and the petals have all gone. The other children hold back, careful of the spiky branches and even his best friend finds that the branches have scratched him. But he does not mind, it is not David’s fault. Then he has an idea. He begins to make paper flowers to replace the ones fallen from David’s hair. The other children join in, cutting them out and attaching them until David’s head is covered in paper flowers. After a while a new flower grows and eventually all the flowers on his head are renewed. He is back to his old self and the best friends are doing what they have always done together. 

This beguiling story reflects the changes that occur in children’s lives when something happens outside their control. David may be ill, there may be changes in his home circumstances, a friend may have died, or he may be feeling depressed. Whatever the reason for his flowers falling from his head, change occurs in all of our lives, and this charming story allows children to see that change does happen but things can be set right again. The help of friends is paramount in setting him back to his old self.

A tale reflecting the kindness of friends, the support given by them all, facilitates David’s renewal, his overcoming the hardship that has caused his distress.  Children will welcome his improvement noting that we can all recover from the changes that upsets us all.                               

Jarvis is an author illustrator living in Manchester, UK and a little more can be read about him on his website.

The illustrations are amazing: seemingly simple, but with a complexity that stares out at the reader, as the flowers wilt and die, then are regenerated by his friends’ compassion. Each page bears a closer look: I loved the make up of the class, the broken train line, the energy of the class making the flowers and finally the storage of the spares just in case.  David is safe and secure with his friends watching out for his welfare.

Classroom ideas are available.

Themes: Depression, Illness, kindness, Friendship, Happiness.

Fran Knight