A Bloom Of Friendship, The Canadian Tulip Festival Children's Book Review

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A Bloom of Friendship Book Review

A non-fiction, children's picture book written by Anne Renaud and illustrated by Ashley Spires, A Bloom Of Friendship: The Story Of The Canadian Tulip Festival tells the story of the history behind the world's largest tulip festival held every spring in Ottawa. It is thus far the only book about the Canadian Tulip Festival that I have been able to find. Therefore, we are extremely lucky that it is such a great book!

Let me start by saying that I am not a history expert and this is in large part a history book. It is perfect for children, Amazon recommends it for eight- to ten-year olds, but it is also great for adults who want to learn a bit about the history of the relationship between Holland and Canada and the tulip festival. It is beautifully illustrated with pictures that have been painted and with both historical and modern day photographs, newspaper articles created to tell the story and lots of historical tidbits woven in and around the main text.

This page can serve as an introduction to the history of the Canadian Tulip Festival (which is sometimes incorrectly called the Ottawa Tulip Festival) as well as a review of this book. I am actually giving more of the history of the tulip festival than is normal in a book review because I think that this page will also be good for people who are looking for this background information who are planning to attend the festival. I would, however, encourage you to check out the book whether or not you have children. It is really very beautiful; I think the artwork would be lovely framed. It also tells a beautiful story ~~ the history of the Canadian and Dutch friendship.

A Bloom Of Friendship: The Story Of The Canadian Tulip Festival 

Amazon has the paperback listed. If you are in the U.S., follow the large link below. Amazon.ca shows this book available as a hardcover at a premium. Canadians can check and see if the paperback book is available at Amazon.ca by clicking here.
A Bloom of Friendship: The Story of the Canadian Tulip Festival (My Canada) (My Canada) (My Canada)

A Bloom of Friendship: The Story of the Canadian Tulip Festival (My Canada) (My Canada) (My Canada)

by: Anne Renaud

Amazon Price: $5.95 (as of 11/29/2009)Buy Now
List Price: $5.95

Have you read this book? What did you think of it? 

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I loved it.

Mickie_G says:

I have not read it YET!

Posted July 23, 2009

flowergardener says:

Gonna have to get this book Brenda! I've 2 grandchildren I could read it to!!!

Posted April 18, 2009

JaguarJulie says:

This sounds like a delightful book that I think Deb the flowergardner would love! I love flowers -- grandma and grandpa grew lots of tulips in their Cleveland garden.

Posted April 17, 2009

OhMe says:

I haven't read this book but love the idea and would like to read it.

Posted March 12, 2009

Treasures-By-Brenda says:

I hope that it is clear from the writing on this page that I love this book. The information is well presented and the artwork amazing. I can hardly wait for spring and for tulips!

Brenda

Posted February 18, 2009

Sorry, it was not my cup of tea.

 

"The Canadian Tulip Festival is a celebration of the friendship between two countries more than 50 years ago."

Anne Renaud's Official Site ~~ Information On The Author and Her Other Books 

Anne Renaud's Home Page
I am a life-long Quebecker, currently living in Montreal. I first came to Montreal to study translation at Concordia University. I liked the city so much that I decided to make my home here. I like writing both fiction and non-fiction books. My readers often ask me why I write books. I tell them it is because I like to do creative things and I find writing to be a very creative exercise. It is also because I can't dance well and I can't sing well, so I try my best at writing well. I hope my books educate, entertain and inspire children.

The Canadian Tulip Festival and Barbara and Malak Karsh 

A Bloom of Friendship opens with a letter from Malak Karsh's wife, Barbara Karsh who tells of their discovery of the thousands of tulips in Ottawa in 1946. The pictures that Mr. Karsh took that day have since travelled the world telling Princess Juliane's Canadian story. Eventually, in 1953, his interest in the tulips would cause him to be instrumental in the creation of the Canadian Tulip Festival.

The Second World War, The Dutch and The Canadians 

A long-lasting friendship is formed out of the toughest of times...

On May 10, 1940, the Dutch people were awakened by the sounds of airplanes and the sight of hundreds of soldiers parachuting to the ground as Hitler invaded Holland. This was the beginning of a horrible five-year period for the Dutch people.

Queen Wilhelmina and the Dutch Royal Family Escape 

Queen Wilhelmina and the Dutch Royal Family escaped to England but even England was not a safe place to be. The Queen's daughter, Crown Princess Juliana, nine-month old Irene and a two-year old Beatrix found a safe place to escape too and that was Canada. They arrived in Halifax via the dutch ship Sumatra in Halifax in June 11, 1940 and from their proceeded to the home they would live in, which was located in Ottawa.

Perhaps the most notable event while they lived in Canada, was the birth in the spring of 1942, of Princess Margriet Francisca who was born a Dutch citizen because Canada named the place of her birth extraterritorial -- meaning outside of Canadian territory.

At Home, The Dutch People Struggled 

Meanwhile in the Netherlands, life was very tough and the Dutch struggled to survive under the Nazis. Living conditions were terrible; supplies scarce. Eventually over 100,000 Dutch Jews were sent to Nazi death camps.

The Battle of the Scheldt, The Battle of the Rhineland and Freedom 

In support of the final phase of the war in Europe, the allies needed to get supplies to their advancing troups in Belgium and The First Canadian Army was tasked with clearing the banks of the Scheldt of Nazis so that supplies could arrive through the Scheldt Estuary. For two months, the Canadians fought the German army along the Scheldt. In the end, more than 6,000 Canadian soliders were killed or wounded but, thanks to their sacrifices, the port of Antwerp was opened successfully. These Canadian soldiers rested in December and January; many of them in the homes of the Dutch where they made friends that would be remembered forever.

Rhineland, however, was one of the places that remained in German control. On February 8, 1945, the First Canadian Army once again was tasked. This time with clearing a passage for allied troups. At the end of this campaign, more than 5,000 Canadians were dead or wounded but at becauase of their efforts, the Allies were able to defeat Hitler.

In March of the same year, the First Canadian Army freed the remaining parts of Holland and, when it was clear that the war was nearing an end, a truce was made allowing for the dropping of much needed food and supplies to the Dutch. This time it was the Royal Canadian Air Force 405 Squadron that helped out by dropping 12,000 tons of needed items.

Picture by Hoshie.

The Gift of Tulips 

Finally on May 8, 1945, the war in Europe was over. Princess Juliana's family returned home and discovered a people who were extremely thankful to the Canadians. In 1945, the Dutch Royal Family sent 100,000 tulip bulbs to Canada by way of thanks. Every year since then, they have sent 20,000 additional tulip bulbs. I am sure that I will remember this story whenever I see tulips in the future. Will you?

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Picture by IrenaS

Books by Anne Renaud 

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A Bloom of Friendship: The Story of the Canadian Tulip Festival (My Canada Series)

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What's the buzz about A Bloom Of Friendship: The Story Of The Canadian Tulip Festival? 

The capital of Canada - Insurance travel
May belongs to the Canadian Tulip Festival--three weeks of celebration of Ottawa's favourite flower. During World War II, the Dutch royal family took refuge in Ottawa and Princess Margriet was born here, in a hospital room designated ... when the royal family returned home after the war, as a gesture of friendship, respect and appreciation, they sent thousands of tulip bulbs. The bulbs have followed every year since and now 3000000 tulips bloom in Canada's Capital Region. ...
a bloom of friendship: the story of the canadian tulip festival by ...
a bloom of friendship is the second title of the my canada series by lobster press. the book provides the history behind canada's tulip festival - the largest tulip festival in the world - and how it all began with a gift a thanks in ...
Photo Gallery: Canadian Tulip Festival 2009 - Style Sheet - HGTV ...
Photo Gallery: Canadian Tulip Festival 2009. Posted by Guest Blogger Tuesday, June 02, 2009 9:01 AM. The story of Canada's tulip festival begins in an Ottawa Civic Hospital room during World War II. ... From this gesture of friendship grew the largest tulip festival in the world. Today, the eighteen day event celebrates the tulip's annual bloom with over three million flowers and draws over 600000 people. Although crowding in front of the tulip beds for pictures is ...
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A Bloom of Friendship on eBay...Or not! 

I offer this spot in case there is a copy of A Bloom of Friendship available on eBay. The hardcover version appears to be a somewhat hard-to-find book, so this box may be empty. If a copy of the book appears and you would really prefer a hardcover copy, I would encourage you to act quickly as it may be the only copy that the seller has available.

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What did you think of this book? 

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The Canadian Tulip Festival (sometimes called the Ottawa Tulip Festival) has become the world's largest tulip festival and takes place in May each year with more than three million tulips in bloom. It runs for three weeks every spring a...

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This page tied for second place in the 'soon to be a Giant Squid' category of the International Friendship Month Lens Contest. Check out the other fantastic entries!

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A Bloom of Friendship 

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by Treasures-By-Brenda

An Ottawa resident, I look forward to the Canadian Tulip Festival every year. This book was a great introduction into the history of the festival and... (more)

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