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New picture book highlights Kennedy family legacy

BY PETER H. R EY NOLDS

A sweet fable dedicated to Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy that celebrates the spirit of
community, the beauty of nature, and the power of faith and imagination

“My mother’s resilience and faith

inspired and nourished our family
all her life. She taught each of us to
persevere, no matter how great the
challenges, and to do all we could to
care for others. May this powerful
story and my mother’s beautiful
greenway plant fresh seeds of hope
and service for generations to come.”
—S enator T ed K en nedy

Rose’s Garden
written and illustrated
by Peter H. Reynolds
Picture book
91⁄16 x 71⁄2 • 40 pages
All ages • Preschool and up
Ink and watercolor
November 2009
HC: 978-0-7636-4641-7
$15.99 ($20.00 CAN)
After traveling the world in her fantastic teapot, Rose is ready to put down roots.
She sets about planting flower seeds in a neglected corner of a bustling city. And
then she waits. Through rain and cold and snow. Rose waits, never doubting
that the garden she envisions will one day come to be. With simple narration and
lovely, fanciful illustrations, this luminous picture book resonates with readers of
all ages. Author-illustrator Peter H. Reynolds has dedicated it to Rose Fitzgerald
Kennedy, the matriarch of the Kennedy family and the namesake of Boston’s
Rose Kennedy Greenway, a series of gardens, plazas, and tree-lined promenades.
Peter H. Reynolds is a New York Times best-selling illustrator who has created
many acclaimed books for children. He also runs FableVision, the interactive
media company he founded with his twin brother, Paul. Peter H. Reynolds lives
in Dedham, Massachusetts.

Illustrations copyright © 2009 by Peter H. Reynolds

About Peter H. Reynolds
“I often visit classrooms and ask who loves to draw,”
says Peter H. Reynolds, illustrator of the acclaimed
Judy Moody and Stink series by Megan McDonald
and author-illustrator of The Dot, Ish, So Few of Me,
The North Star, and most recently, Rose’s Garden, all
enchanting picture books that celebrate the creative
spirit. “In kindergarten and first grade, all the
hands go up. In second grade, most of the hands go
up. In third grade, half the hands are up. By fourth
and fifth grade, most of the hands are down, or
perhaps pointing to ‘the class artist.’

“It’s sad to see the artistic, creative energy slowing down, being packed away,” the
author-illustrator continues. “I am convinced it’s because children learn early that there
are ‘rules’ to follow. But when it comes to expressing yourself, you can invent your own
rules. You can change them, you can stretch them, or you can ignore them all and dive
headfirst into the unknown.

“Nothing irks me more than seeing a person’s creativity get shut down,” says Peter H.
Reynolds. “Through my books, I want to help give kids—and grown-up kids—the
vocabulary to protect their exploration in art, writing, and thinking.”

It certainly appears that his approach is working: not only did The Dot  garner high
critical acclaim, it also received the Christopher Award, presented to works that “affirm
the highest values of the human spirit.” His book The North Star  has had a profound
effect on readers around the world, inspiring classroom activities, a musical, and
countless thoughtful journeys. In 2009 Candlewick Press published a new edition—
featuring all new art—celebrating the book’s own voyage.

The president and creative director of FableVision Studios in Boston, Massachusetts,

where he produces award-winning children’s broadcast programming, educational
videos, and multimedia applications, Peter H. Reynolds was recently honored by
Verizon as Literacy Leader of the Year.

Illustrations copyright © 2009 by Peter H. Reynolds

Dear Readers,

I was reading my book The Dot  to a crowd of

inner-city children at a literacy event on Boston
Common with the mayor of Boston when I was
approached by Peter Meade, chair of the newly
formed Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy.

“I was wondering if you’d be interested in creating a story that speaks to the Greenway—
our new park—the way Robert McCloskey’s Make Way for Ducklings  centers on the Public
Garden,” Meade asked me. I knew that the Big Dig project had torn down the ugly elevated
roadways that had ripped through the heart of Boston and replaced them with a beautiful,
brand-new park.

Needless to say, I was intrigued by the challenge of creating a story for children and families
in a park envisioned by Senator Ted Kennedy and named for his mother, Rose Fitzgerald
Kennedy. I knew that if I finished the Greenway story, I would dedicate the book to Rose
Fitzgerald Kennedy to honor her spirit and work. I set off to learn as much about her as
I could. I read books, articles, and also arranged to meet Senator Kennedy in his Boston
office, where we spent an unforgettable hour together. The senator shared his mother’s
story while standing at a big window overlooking the city, pointing out important locations
around the harbor, the North End, and the new park named after his mother.

And so I began writing and illustrating the story of a girl named Rose—a girl who had come
to this city filled with hope and vision, imagining something grand, something that would
bring people together and give them a chance to share their stories.

Like Rose Kennedy, my Rose is a person of faith. Her belief in her garden is strong, and like
Rose Kennedy, she survives many storms and disappointments. In the story, her resilient
faith attracts children from every neighborhood, each bringing a hand-crafted paper flower,
as well their own stories of how they had come to the city, “like seeds carried on a breeze.”

Not unlike my other books, The Dot, Ish,  and the The North Star,  I hope this fable will be
a “conversation starter.” I want children to be able to participate in the story, to interact
with its themes of community, connection, courage, and creativity. I imagined children in
classrooms and homes making their own paper flowers, planting seeds, and writing stories
about their own personal journeys.

Writing and illustrating Rose’s Garden  has been a rare honor. To be a part of the history and
the story of Boston has been an unforgettable and moving experience. The Rose Fitzgerald
Kennedy Greenway is now, and will always be, a very special place to me—one that I intend
to support and encourage stewardship toward for generations to come.

Yours in the Garden,

Illustrations copyright © 2009 by Peter H. Reynolds

 Also by Peter H. Reynolds
The North Star The Dot
A gorgeous new A simple story
edition of the and free-spirited
universal fable illustrations entice
that has inspired even the stubbornly
seekers of all ages uncreative among us
to follow their to make a mark—
heart’s desire. and follow it where
it takes us.
“Enchanting,
lightly colored Winner of a
sketches. . . . Christopher Award
Perfectly poised for graduates of all stripes.” H “In this engaging, inspiring tale, Reynolds
—Booklist demonstrates the power of a little encouragement. . . .
“A kid-friendly version of The Alchemist, the book He pulls off exactly what his young heroine does,
reinforces the fact that life is a journey—even for creating an impressive work from deceptively simple
those who are just beginning.” —UrbanBaby.com beginnings.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
HC: 978 -0-7636 -3677-7  •  $16.99 ($18. 50 CA N) HC: 978 - 0-7636 -1961-9  •  $14.00 ($15. 50 CA N)

Ish So Few of Me
In this gentle Peter H. Reynolds
fable, a creative returns with an
spirit learns that important message
thinking “ish-ly” is for readers of all
more valuable than ages: stop and take a
“getting it right.” little time to dream.
“The overriding “Intriguing and
theme about inviting. . . . While
creativity versus there’s an adult
exactitude will sensibility at work,
resonate with the gentle humor and
many. counting element tip
The line-and-watercolor artwork is simple, the scales toward a child audience.”  —Kirkus Reviews
but it has great emotion and warmth. Kids will
HC: 978 - 0-7636 -2623 - 5  •  $14.00 ($18. 50 CA N)
respond to that, too.” —Booklist
HC: 978 -0-7636 -2344-9  •  $14.00 ($15. 50 CA N)

Peter H. Reynolds is also the illustrator of the best-selling

Judy Moody and Stink chapter-book series.

Illustrations copyright © 2009 by Peter H. Reynolds