The Land of the Blue Flower [Hardcover]

Frances Hodgson Burnett (Author), Frances Hodgson-Burnett (Author), Judith A. Griffith (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up

The Land of the Blue Flower is the tale of Amor, a young king orphaned as an infant and left in the care of a wise elder. His caretaker, known as the Ancient One, spirits the infant away to a castle, far from the gloomy city where Amor was born. In the lands surrounding the castle, the Ancient One teaches Amor to respect and learn from the beauty and mysteries of nature.

When Amor ascends to his throne as a young man, he returns to the city, which has been in a state of ruin for many years. The people of the kingdom are surprised when their new king issues a mysterious proclamation that all persons must plant and nurture the seeds of a magical Blue Flower.

The people follow King Amor's decree with trepidation. As they learn to care for the flowers, they learn to care for the Earth and one another. Soon, the once-gloomy kingdom becomes known as the Land of the Blue Flower.

Audiences of all ages will be delighted by the reemergence of The Land of the Blue Flower, a lost classic by Frances Hodgson Burnett, author of much-loved children's books, including The Secret Garden, A Little Princess, and Little Lord Fauntleroy. Judith Ann Griffith's elegant illustrations beautifully complement this ageless tale, which offers a timely message.

Miss Griffith discovered The Land of the Blue Flower when she received a copy of the 1909 edition from a friend. She was deeply impressed with the book. Griffith writes, "It was in the woods and in the garden that I gained the awareness of the interconnectedness of all life. In The Land of the Blue Flower, Burnett conveys her understanding of this universal principle through the classic symbolism of a fairy tale. Wisdom gleaned from the Earth and the stars leads to creative solutions."

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A beautiful boy, the offspring of royal parents, grows up and is crowned king of a sad land that only he can lead to the path of peace and prosperity.

Hodgson Burnett has received much praise over the last century for "Little Lord Fauntleroy" and "The Secret Garden," but this story has slumbered in obscurity for more than 80 years. It was resuscitated by Griffith, who received a dusty copy from a friend a few years back.

The book has a New Age message of peace and cooperation that's in keeping with its publisher's usual fare, but no one can deny the timeliness of the story's message: Anger deflects us from the important tasks we face." -- Press-Telegram, February 7, 1994

"Sure to put stars into a young person's eyes." -- NQ, NAPRA ReVIEW, Holiday Issue 1993

"The Land of the Blue Flower" by Frances Hodgson Burnett, a classic story which has been out of print since 1938, weaves the magical tale of Amor, a young king who is orphaned. The book develops the theme of living in harmony with nature and demonstrates the healing power of love." -- Science of Mind, August 1994

From the Publisher

To our readers: The books we publish are our contribution to an emerging world based on cooperation rather than on competition, on affirmation of the human spirit rather than on self-doubt, and on the certainty that all humanity is connected. Our goal is to touch as many lives as possible with a message of hope for a better world.--Hal and Linda Kramer, Publishers

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 44 pages
• Publisher: H.J. Kramer (October 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0915811464
• ISBN-13: 978-0915811465
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,023,409 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Blue Flowers" = Life, Love & Beauty, May 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Land of the Blue Flower (Hardcover)

This charming fairytale by the author of the beloved _Secret Garden_ is not just for children, but is a kind of "spiritual tonic" for folks of all ages. Ever since discovering HJKramer's magical edition, I have turned to _Blue Flower_ during times of spiritual or physical depletion and have always felt uplifted and enlivened by its positive message and exquisite artwork.

The book came to me in a strange, "Heaven-directed" way, during a time of immense grief over the death of a relative. I was ripe for its insightful messages that, "If you fill your mind with a beautiful thought, there will be no room for an ugly one"; and "There is no time for anger..." I have always been bolstered by this particular edition, so gracefully illustrated by Judith Ann Griffith, and over the years have gifted a few special souls, adults and children alike, with copies of this delightful book.

The "blue flowers" at the heart of the story have gradually become a sort of shorthand-code between me and cherished friends/relatives; and on special occasions, we sometimes exchange "blue flowers" as a colorful reminder of truths taught in Frances Hodgson Burnett's tale. The "blue-flower code" is simple and speaks directly to the heart, saying, "We choose love, life, and joy over fear, bitterness, and grudges." (Given current global upheavals and conflicts, maybe certain folks in High Places would do well to read this little book and internalize its simple truths.)

_The Land of the Blue Flower_ is very enthusiastically recommended for hearts of all ages, and Kramer's gorgeous edition is sure to become a family favorite.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An enchanted story which affirms beauty and life., August 22, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Land of the Blue Flower (Hardcover)

Though the story carries a brilliant message of hope for us all, if we can affirm our connection with the earth, it is the lovely illustrations that bring home this heart-felt promise.

On almost every page of this classic tale the artist has embellished the authors words with delightful and imaginative representations of the story.

For a timeless message of hope treat your children and yourself to this book.

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful story, ugly binding..., May 5, 2006

By 

K. Bunyard (The South) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Land Of The Blue Flower (Paperback)

My daughter fell in love with this book after checking it out at the library. The version she read was a beautiful picture book with pages and pictures as wonderful as the story. She had earned a treat and only wanted this book.
Let me just say how disappointing it is to open a box and find a small, flimsy paperback with not one, single picture! The cover pictured is the actual book cover and inside is small type covering pages with small margins. Only half of the pages are even printed; the book ends just over half-way through the pages of the book.
This is a beautiful story, and I realize that this is a rare publication, but it is still a letdown to find such a book especially at this price.