FANTASTIC TALE!

Love You, Fiorella, Flaws and All!, written by Cindy A. Bell and illustrated by Emily House, is a children's picture book that centers around a young puppy named Fiorella and her mother, Mama Rose. The story begins with Fiorella happily running around her farm and sharing how much she loves her home. Soon after the mother and daughter are loaded into the bed of their pet parent's truck, expecting to be taken somewhere fun. This is not what happens and the pair are heartbroken when their guardian leaves them behind at an animal shelter with a goodbye and no explanation. As Fiorella struggles to come to terms with abandonment and tries to determine what it was she did to make their guardian give them up, Mama Rose does her best to teach Fiorella that they did nothing wrong and that they are worthy of love, flaws and all.

I Love You, Fiorella, Flaws And All! hit me with feelings almost from the very beginning. Cindy A. Bell describes Fiorella and Mama Rose's pleasure simply and effectively, making the scene that follows so much more poignant. The shock of being offloaded at an animal shelter is profoundly sad and, as a reader, I had to stop and collect myself when the book went in that direction. A standout here is that the dogs' guardian, Doc, is not painted as a bad pet parent. We are not given the reasons why Doc needed to re-home his dogs and Doc even tells the shelter to keep them together, which shows care and concern for them. It also allows us to believe that this transition may very well be in Fiorella's and Mama Rose's best interests. Breathing life into each page are the gorgeous illustrations by Emily House. A bold palette of primary colors is softened with whimsical sketches that reflect emotion and circumstances appropriately. As one would expect in a children's book, we are given a happy ending that lifts the spirits and gives us all hope. This is a fantastic tale and I have no doubt it will touch the hearts of adults and young readers alike.

Asher Syed, Readers' Favorite

MUST READ!

A very well-thought-out picture book about being yourself and loving yourself for who you are!

This is such a sweet, cute, and a fun book to read! Love the positive message this book gives about self esteem, being who you are and owning it!

The book also portrays the issue of abandonment and it can be a really helpful read to children facing any kind of abandonment, rejection or just finding it difficult to fit in. It gives out the clear message that it's not their fault and that no matter what, they do not need to change themselves to be loved or shouldn't change for anyone for that matter. They will be loved for who they are. Nothing is wrong with them or what they think are their flaws!

The book teaches to own all our flaws, in the case of Fiorella - messy drools, playful chews and loud howls and all! Although this is a book for children, this can be a great, fun read for people from all walks of life.

The illustrations were really great, heart-warming, and fun! They depicted the exact emotions on the pup and mum's faces. The illustrations were what added emotions to this book!

Christine Hou, Reedsy Discovery

EXCELLENT STORY!

Though this story features two dogs, their feelings of abandonment and loss are real for humans, as well. Short phrases blend with a balanced amount of dialogue and internal reflection to create a narrative that is accessible to a wide range of ages. Playful font appears from time to time as Mama Rose sings to Fiorella, standing apart from the rest of the word and adding another visual layer to the story. This is an excellent story to share with young children, especially as they are discovering their unique worth in a world that sometimes hides it from them.

Mary Lanni, Children’s Literature

CLEVER!

As countless studies have shown, daily reading shared between parents and children can provide so much more than mere entertainment. When it comes to children’s literature, read-alongs serve as a touchstone for a myriad of formative conversations. I LOVE YOU, FIORELLA, FLAWS AND ALL, by author Cindy A. Bell and illustrator Emily House accomplishes just that, cleverly weaving themes of abandonment and self-worth into a story about a spirited puppy in search of a new home.

James Weiskittel, IndieReader

It’s Not Your Fault!

We've all had that day, where we wonder if something that went wrong was our fault. As adults, we know how to process that thought and move on. But kids can't always do that, and it's easy for them to hold on to the idea that they caused a problem—even when it's not true. (And even more often, that fear that something is their fault leads them to hold their feelings in!)

In the case of poor Fiorella, she's sure that it's her fault her owner left her and her mother at the animal shelter. Did she drool too much? Did she howl too loud?Was she too smelly or did she chew too much? Sure that whatever happened was her fault, Fiorella shrinks into a shell of her former self, trying to change who she is so that someone will love her. It isn't until her mom reassures Fiorella that she loves her, flaws and all, that Fiorella realizes that she needs to be herself. And that someone who doesn't love her for *her *isn't her person.

I Love You, Fiorella, Flaws and All by Cindy A. Bell is a beautiful tale of being true to ourselves, even when the cost feels too high. Gorgeous illustrations by Emily House complement the package making for a truly stunning and unforgettable book. 

Brooke Vitale, Children's Book Editor

Great Job, Cindy!

I read this book to my wonderful third grade class in Dallas, Texas and they just LOVED it! Some of their comments include:

"She is a very good author."
"I like how the gardener adopted Fiorella and Mama Rose. "
"The story is nice."
"I like the dog's personality and it reminded me of myself because I do things that I am not supposed to."
"I like how the emotions change with the settings. The illustrations are great."
"It makes me think of my dog."

Great job, Cindy Bell! We loved it!

Sudha R. Ramaswami