Book Review - 'Prunella' by Beth Ferry (Writer), Claire Keane (Illustrator)

A picture book that teaches children that being different is good. That stepping out of boxed lines, out of what is socially considered "normal", is good.

Just my kind of picture book and comic.

'Prunella' is a coming-of-age story about a young girl born with a purple thumb instead of a green thumb like her parents, and she uses her unique gift to grow and garden poisonous, or otherwise harmful, predatory, disgusting, or ugly, plants, instead of pretty flowers. Prunella is fascinated by these "weird", "scary", "gross" plants, and loves them, being a misunderstood social outcast herself. Nobody around her really understands her and her interests and talents. But maybe they'll come to eventually? One by one?

Misunderstood weirdos unite! Spread the love and community!

I learned so much about so many different types of plants whilst reading 'Prunella'. A lot of these "scary" and "ugly" cacti, fungi, shrubs, weeds, wildflowers, thorny-thicketed brambles, insectivorous Venus flytraps, poison ivy, cobra lilies, voodoo lilies, bladderworts, corpse flowers, carnivorous pitcher plants, skunk cabbages, witches'-butters, scarlet firethorns, and blackberries, are actually cool and interesting.

I also love how supportive Prunella's parents are, despite not fully understanding her. She's different from them, and that's okay! They understand her passion for plants and gardening, at least, and they fuel and encourage that passion in their particular, peculiar, prickly, brilliant, unique daughter!

'Prunella' - an ode to difference and individuality, and family and friendship. An inspiration. A must for aspiring botanists, mycologists, and entomologists, as well. Very diverse, to boot hoot root.

Blooming greenhouses! Buggy and batty! And spidery! What a weeny, weedy violet that nonetheless takes root and then sprouts into the most heartwarming, plump, thorned purple lily, with an edge, a sting!

Final Score: 4/5

P.S: I can't look at the eponymous title without thinking of the actress Prunella Scales, and there's an Italian fairy tale called 'Prunella', or 'Prezzemolina', and prunella vulgaris is a real purple flower and healing herb, too. Oh and it's a grape wine, a gin, a worsted fabric, and a real British Thoroughbred racehorse from the 18th century. So there's that.