Mia lives in a house by a dump near Santiago, Chile. Each day her father sells scrap in the city. One day as Mia searches in the nearby Andes Moun tains for her lost dog, she makes an unexpected discovery in the snow— a field of beautiful white flowers. Mia digs up clumps of the flowers and re plants them near her house. The wind spreads the seeds, and the next spring the village and dump are covered with beautiful flowers, which Mia and Papa take to the city to sell. Foreman’s sketchbook drawings and soft watercolors add lovely detailing without overwhelming Mia’s story. 2007 USBBY Out standing International Books List. ca

Originally published by Walker Books Great Britain, in 2006.

From award-winning picture book artist Michael Foreman comes the uplifting tale of a girl whose search for a lost puppy leads to some wondrous wildflowers — and a magical way to transform her barren village.

In a bleak little village in Chile, Papa comes home from his day of selling metal scraps with a wonderful surprise for his daughter, Mia. It's a puppy she names Poco, who follows the little girl everywhere — until one day, as puppies will do, Poco wanders away. As Mia searches for her pup, she finds herself all alone at the top of the highest mountain, where she gathers a clump of snow-white flowers to plant by her home. Soon Mia's fragrant flowers have spread through the village and blanketed the once-ugly dump. Before long, she is selling her flowers in the city square, telling crowds of customers that "they come from the stars." But wherever the flowers are, Mia is always reminded of Poco. Is it possible the flowers may bring back her beloved dog after all?