• Age: 7 to 10
• Grade: 2 to 5

In the spring of 1939 a young girl named Frances is chosen from among her classmates to present a bouquet of roses to the Queen Elizabeth. Excitement builds throughout the day as people gather at the station to witness the Royal visit of King George, Queen Elizabeth and the young princesses, Elizabeth and Margaret, but the long-awaited train does not stop. It continues on through the station leaving behind a puzzled crowd and a disappointed Frances.
Seventy years later, Frances watches William and Kate's royal wedding with her granddaughter Kara and tells her about how a long time ago, she almost met the Queen. Kara shares her grandmother's story, which leads to an amazing opportunity: Frances will present a bouquet to Kate and William when they visit!
Based on real events and accompanied by a combination of elegant illustrations and original photographs, Frances' story is unique and inspiring. Seventy years is a very long time to wait holding onto a dream, and as she finally gives away her bouquet, Frances is once again that child from 1939, learning that dreams really can come true.

Veronika Martenova Charles was born behind the Iron Curtain in Prague, Czechosloavakia As a teenager Veronika formed a pop act with a friend and learned to sing Western rock and roll On a return trip from a tour in Cuba she stepped from her plane as it refueled in Gander, Newfoundland, and decided to stay in Canada Since 1991 Veronika has been writing and illustrating children's books full-time She is an award-winning author and illustrator whose books include: Maiden of the Mist: A Legend of Niagara Falls; Stretch, Swallow, and Stare; The Crane Girl; and The Birdman Veronika has studied at Ryerson University, the Ontario College or Art and Design, and recently completed her graduate studies in Folklore at York University Veronika Martenova Charles lives in Toronto

A native of Montreal, Annouchka Gravel Galouchko has lived in Iran, Egypt, Mexico, and Austria Winner of a Governor General's Award for illustration and nominee for French language text (Sho et les dragons d'eau), she has exhibited her paintings widely

Annouchka's partner, Stephan Daigle, is an internationally known painter and illustrator of books, magazines, and corporate images He, too, was born in Montreal The couple's collaboration on The Birdman has resulted in an exceptional blend of color and design, along with depth and symbolism that belie its prettiness Stephan and Annouchka live in Quebec with their eight-year-old son, Sacha

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During his twenty-five years of practice as an herbalist, Stephen Taylor has explored the traditional foundations of Western medicine, drawing inspiration from the ancient herbalists Hippocrates and Galen, and the medieval herbalist Nicholas Culpeper. While exploring the surviving folk traditions of Europe, he has also trained in Eastern and African traditions of ancient medicine. Having made extensive visits to learn from the traditional healers of Africa, he eventually became initiated as a traditional healer and diviner himself. He continues to practice herbal medicine, teach, and research, and he grows and produces many of his own medicines.

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