Did you know that a single tulip bulb was once so valuable that it was worth the price of an entire house—or even a necklace of jewels? Perhaps you think that tulips, which grow so plentifully now, have always been around for everyone to enjoy? Well, this is not the case and, if you read on, you will discover that the tulip, a unique and beautiful flower, has an unusual and colorful history indeed.

Cultivated originally in the Middle East, tulips were bought and sometimes even smuggled out of the country by merchants and travelers who wanted to bring them home to their loved ones.  Phyllis Krasilovsky weaves a beautiful tale around this history, focusing on a Dutch merchant named Hendrik and his daughter, Katrina.  Having received the bulbs as a gift from her father, Katrina lovingly plants them in a bowl in front of her window.  Neighbors pass by regularly to watch as these strange new plants grow and finally bloom in a rainbow of colors.  One young man, however, develops a greater interest in Katrina than in the tulips, and the love story begin.

With an eye for detail, S. D. Schindler brings to life this period of Dutch history with amazing clarity.  His glorious illustrations of Holland's streets and villages, people and flowers, bring a radiance and splendor to the pages of this exquisite book.

From the dust jacket