A Rose Named Peace

Praise

Words are artfully placed within and around the images to ensure that each piece has its own space while working in tandem to tell the story. Most striking of all are the illustrations; using watercolors, Ibatoulline has created tangible images of Meilland’s life, and readers of all ages will be in awe of the realistic appearance of each one.
—School Library Journal (starred review)

In this informative, botanically leaning picture book, Roberts and Ibatoulline chronicle the efforts of French gardener Francis Meilland (1912–1958) to create “a new thing of beauty to give to the world,” describing how WWII almost derailed his efforts.
—Publishers Weekly

Roberts offers a truly multi-disciplinary slice of history with child-accessible discussion of the aesthetic, scientific, and business aspects of 3-35-40’s ascent, woven together with the uplifting subplot of how it acquired its name, Peace Rose. Ibatoulline’s near-photorealistic watercolors, set into oversized trim, are well-suited to classroom sharing as well as leisurely examination.
—The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

Exquisite watercolors by Ibatoulline starkly contrast sun-drenched rose gardens with smudged, fragile battlefields, highlighting the many strands woven into the flower’s journey. . . a compelling combination of history and science. Poignant storytelling that absolutely blooms.
—Kirkus Reviews

Precise and detailed, Ibatoulline’s captivating watercolor paintings help readers imagine the historical settings. . . lovely.
—Booklist