Dandelion

By Don Freeman

Copyright 1964

Don Freeman is better known for writing the delightful picture books about Corduroy, a little girl’s stuffed bear.  I hadn’t heard of Dandelion until my own children were young.  This book has what I consider one of the most important life lessons, but one that the youngest children already instinctively know.  Be yourself.  So simple, yet so quickly forgotten by many of us as we get older.  

Dandelion is excited to be invited to a “come as you are” tea-and-taffy party at his friend’s house.  He thinks it fortunate that he had already planned to get a haircut, since he wants to look his best.  Unfortunately, he listens to his barber’s advice to get a new curly hairstyle just like one in the fashion magazine for lions.  His fancy new hairstyle leads him to think he should have a fancy new outfit to match.  Add a cap and a cane and he becomes quite the dandy lion.  

Dandelion shows up on his friend’s doorstep for the party, but he looks so different that Jennifer Giraffe doesn’t recognize him and shuts the door in his face!  Dandelion paced back and forth, sad and unsure of what to do.  As he paced, a storm blew in.  The wind blew away his snappy cap, the rain washed out his new hairstyle, and he got so wet he took his fancy jacket off.  When the sun came out again, Dandelion sat down on his friend’s doorstep to dry, then rang the doorbell again.  Jennifer Giraffe was so pleased to finally see her good friend arrive at her party!  All the guests greeted him heartily as they sat down to enjoy their tea.  

Dandelion learned his lesson.

“And I promise you I will never again try to turn myself into a stylish dandy,” said Dandelion as he sipped his tea.  “From now on I’ll always be just plain me!”

Dandelion now knows that conforming to another person's ideal will only make him look silly and feel out of place.

Don’t have the "right" clothes?  Don’t look like the people in that magazine?  If you wear a smile, anyone who matters won’t notice you don’t have the latest styles.  Young children already know this.  It’s the rest of us that may have to relearn this lesson!