A charming picture book that is sure to help little readers who feel unwanted.
Farm dogs Fiorella and Mama Rose go from living a ‘charmed life’ to tasting the bitterness of abandonment. Their happy life is upended when they are unexpectedly dropped off at an animal shelter. Certain she had done something wrong at her former home, Fiorella concludes that she needs to be a better pup in order to find a new forever home for herself and Mama Rose. She fights against all her normal puppy behaviors, such as drooling, howling and chewing, and instead adopts a dramatic new set of habits. Fiorella researches new puppy tricks and even takes up tap-dancing in a bid to attract a new family. But nothing seems to work. Month after month, these two lonely dogs are overlooked. Mama Rose finally has a heart-to-heart with her girl and reminds her that she is loved, despite her flaws. A wonderful surprise happens the next morning when Mama Rose and Fiorella are adopted and ushered off to a happy home where they can enjoy life and be themselves.
I Love You, Fiorella, Flaws and All! is a charming picture book that is sure to help little readers who feel unwanted or who suffer with feelings of neglect, betrayal or guilt. There are so many kids who might benefit from the sweet message Cindy A. Bell has woven into this lighthearted story, including children who have been adopted or are in the foster system, those coping with their parents’ divorce, and especially those who have lost a parent to abandonment or even death. Fiorella may have lots of insecurities, but her mother’s love is never among them, adding a lovely tether to a situation that feels out of control for a vulnerable pup. It is heartbreaking to watch Fiorella try to abandon all the things that define her character just to fit into some imagined mold of the perfect pet, but fortunately she has a caring parent who eventually steps in to help adjust her thinking. Pleasant depictions of the animal shelter, and especially the cheerful volunteer named Lucy, serve to minimize what could be an otherwise scary situation. The happy ending provides the perfect counterbalance to the emotional rollercoaster Fiorella experiences while awaiting adoption. By means of modest artwork and an uplifting message, I Love You, Fiorella, Flaws and All! is a book that is sure to provide reassurance to any young ones struggling with abandonment and insecurity.
