Emma's Sunflower

A tender story of friendship, patience, and the power of a tiny seed.

When Emma plants a sunflower seed in her garden, she has big hopes—but even bigger questions. Why isn't it growing yet? What if it never blooms?

As days turn into weeks, Emma watches, waits, and learns that some of the most beautiful things in life take time. With the gentle support of her family and the wonder of the natural world, Emma discovers the quiet magic of nurturing something from soil to sky.

Told through lyrical prose and softly captivating illustrations, Emma’s Sunflower celebrates:

• The beauty of nature and gardening

• Emotional growth and resilience

• The joy of patience and perseverance

• A child’s connection to the world around them

Perfect for children ages 3–8, this heartwarming picture book is ideal for families, teachers, and librarians seeking stories that spark curiosity and empathy.

Whether read aloud in springtime or shared as part of a classroom science unit, Emma’s Sunflower is a delightful reminder that sometimes, the most important changes happen just below the surface.

A dyslexic friendly font makes this enjoyable for all readers.

"Phillipa Warden (1971) attended the Royal College of Art and the ICE at Cambridge University studying Creative Writing. She wrote her first children's picture book Rupert's Snowman after her son refused to leave his snowman on the hill after a snow day. It is a fun and empathetic tale that launched in September 2020. She is currently editing her second book, for her daughter, having been playfully accused of favouritism towards Rupert.

Phillipa is also the portrait artist at Tortoise Media."

Grace Ward, the illustrator of Emma’s Sunflower and Rupert’s Snowman is dyslexic and she chose a font called Open Dyslexic to tell her stories. The unique shape of each letter can help prevent confusion through flipping and swapping letters because they have a heavier bottom. The dyslexic reader will be able to quickly work out which part of the word is down and this aids in recognizing the correct letter.