The Rosebush
By Written and Illustrated by E. Jean Lanyon

       Ever since humans have been on this planet, children have had the miraculous ability to change the atmosphere of any environment they’re in. Whether they’re in the backyard digging for buried treasure or running around the kitchen playing tag in the middle of dinner being made, they always have the knack of changing what seems “unchangeable” to the adults. Miss Lydia Hackett finds this out when the little girl from next door comes into her life and changes her entire summer.

       Miss Hackett’s led a very peaceful life. Everything was kept pristine and perfect. All was in its rightful place...yet she could not get her rosebush to bloom! The flowerless plant plagues her every thought...until a strange creature appears hovering around it. Lydia confronts the “creature” and finds out that “it” is a little girl named Emma who only wants to play in her garden. They soon become great friends and both Miss Lydia’s and Emma’s lives are changed over the short time of a summer.

       This is an adorable read! The illustrations are so simple, yet intriguing enough to keep a child enraptured through the whole story. I love little Emma’s cowhand costume in the illustrations. She is absolutely precious, and Miss Lydia Hackett is a wonderful older woman who becomes changed by the simple friendship of a child. This would be a great book for any woman who has the blessing of having a little cowgirl in her life to share it with.