by Carly Jo Carson (Author), Ben Sharony (Author), Nichole Graf (Illustrator)
Dougie & V tells the story of a tree who wants to be a flower.
Dougie, a young Douglas Fir, can easily spot the gifts and strengths of others, but has a difficult time seeing anything good in himself. Can you relate?
In the first half of the book, Dougie relentlessly compares himself to V, a vibrant violet. V, older and wiser, gently pushes back. She shows Dougie that he too is special. With V's help, Dougie comes to understand that though he and V are very different, they are both innately unique, strong and beautiful.
Sprinkled with delightful and surprising factoids about biodiversity, this spiritual journey teaches us about friendship, loss, and the cycles of life. But above all, this is a book about the importance of self-love.
It's a picture book for children ages 4-8, but we believe that it would appeal to older kids and adults, too. As for comps, Dougie and V shares qualities with many iconic titles. At its core, it is a playful and affirming text in the same vein as Marion Deuchars' "Bob the Artist." But it also includes witty asides that are both educational and fun, something akin to Julia Rothman's "Nature Anatomy." And finally, our greatest ambition is to edge towards the poignancy found in "The Giving Tree."