The Flower Man: When a Picture Really Is Worth A Thousand Words.

Poster of older man with a green bird sitting on his finger
Image from ‘The Flower Man’ Mark Ludy

Sometimes you discover treasures that help you to learn, to think, and to teach in the most unexpected places.

The example that prompted this deep thought is ‘The Flower Man by Mark Ludy’  a childrens’ book, that is more than a childrens’ book.

This came about when I was attending training on strengths based practice in the lovely country, Victorian, town of Bendigo (Australia). The organization St Lukes not only have a great online shop, and newsletter – SOON.  At the time of my visit they also had a wonderful book shop in the middle of the town. Hours went by in that shop. Delicious hours.

Flower Man Picture of Strengths Cards box with a card either side
Strengths Cards From Innovative Resources

I came out with Strengths cards which were fantastic tools in training and working with families. A Strengths based practice manual. A book A Strengths Approach I have mentioned here before. And other things I have forgotten just now.

My prize that day was ‘The Flower Man’ by Mark Ludy.  This book is filled with lovely messages through illustration, without words. If a picture is worth a thousand words, this book must stretch to hundreds of thousands.

The beautiful illustrations teach us about community, about being generous. They remind that there are many stories all around us. It encourages you to imagine stories.

 

What does this have to do with Brain Injury?

In case you are about to switch off wondering what this has to do with my main topic – brain injury. It is a bit of a stretch, but here is how it links for me:

 

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  • If reading is difficult a story through pictures can be an alternative. 
  • Sometimes you need an alternative to words when trying to open discussion, or share feelings.  Another technique I have used is to make picture cards using lovely pages from my husband’s old National Geographic magazines. Shhhhhhhh. He doesn’t know yet! 
  • When talking to someone, particularly a child about grief, loss, change, trauma, loneliness developing stories from what you see through the windows can help a child (or adult) articulate their own story. 
  • A picture book can enable the reader to be creative and develop a story outside of themselves. Remember though some cognitive changes such as concrete thinking may make this difficult. 
  • As with reading – it can be an escape for a time as you lose yourself in the illustrations and stories.

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The Book

The opening dedication is delightful. A whole page illustration of a large man in a bath beside an open window. He has a television remote in his hand and a TV set at the end of the bath. Out the window a view across the village. The quote reads:

Flower Man Book Cover with older man in centre in colour with buildings and streetscape in black and white
The Flower Man by Mark Ludy

 

“ My Grandpa always said, “Everyones gotta story … you jus’ gotta find out what it is.”

The back cover shares how the book might be read:

“Within these wordless pages are stories to be discovered. Use your keen eyes to see that which needs to be seen and use your heart to discover the message that is waiting there just for you.”

The book is described as follows on Mark Ludy’s website:

“The Flower Man is a wordless picture books where every window tells a different story.

Revealed in Color, as a man steps into a depressed city street, the only one in color. He buys an old shack, fixes it up and everything he touches turns to color. He plants a garden and gives away a single little flower, to a little girl… who turns to color.

Before you know it – everywhere – lives are transformed and the streets are bursting with color. But the beauty, just as in life, is in the detail. Look into one window and follow that persons story… there is over 60 stories to be discovered. Each showing the beauty that love never fails.

This book has been used in a myriad of ways, as much with adults as with children. The message is timeless and beautiful and touches everyone’s heart.”

A Little Book Doing a Big Job

The following is a list of some of what myself and others have discovered in “The Flower Man”:

 

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  • An alternative when people struggle to read words. 
  • A way to enable thoughts and feelings to be expressed through the stories seen on the page. 
  • Encouragement to try new things, to reach out to others. 
  • A reminder of the values still held in the world – giving, generosity, making the world a better place, helping others. 
  • One person can make a difference – the potential for a community to grow and change for the better 
  • A reminder about the many, many stories around our communities – as the book says “every window tells a different tale…”.

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‘The Flower Man’ in Action

Here is a short example of children sharing the stories they see in the book. Remember as you watch – there are no words in this book. The words are the children’s own.

And Finally

Please share ways you have used this book or share other books you have found useful.

Please Remember – using any tools, including a lovely picture book in a “therapeutic” kind of way needs to be done with care and skill. Sometimes when using such tools it can trigger peoples pain and loss. This needs to be understood and carefully supported.

This Post Has 2 Comments

  1. Donna Humphries

    Well I reckon he knows now! Sprung bad!

    1. Melanie Atkins

      Only if he reads this Donna!! HeHeHe Lets see.

Comments are closed.