Book Review of Aloe Vera’s Special Gift
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The Children’s Book Review
Aloe Vera’s Special Gift
Written by Jeanette Gil
Illustrated by Tania Ortiz
Ages: 4-6 | 42 Pages
Publisher: Zun Zun Press (2025) | ISBN: 979-8998813214
What to Expect: Self-worth, kindness, gardens, healing, and herbal remedies.
Every child can relate to feeling different from everyone else around them. This simple garden-themed picture book helps readers explore that feeling through the metaphor of a plant that may not be pretty but is definitely pretty useful.
Aloe Vera does not feel like an important part of the garden she lives in. She doesn’t have beautiful flowers like the rose, a sweet smell like the lavender, or even nectar to feed the birds and insects like the other flowers. Instead, she is spiky and hard—hard enough to hurt the animals who touch her!
Aloe Vera wishes she could be like the other plants until, one day, a bunny breaks one of her leaves, and cool, soothing gel seeps out and heals his hurt paw. The word spreads quickly—Aloe Vera is the plant to visit if you have a cut, a scrape, an itch, or a sting! No matter the season, Aloe’s healing powers help her friends, and she learns something important: “what matters most is what’s inside” (p. 38).
Aloe Vera is a kind and helpful character, emphasizing that “what’s inside” refers not only to a person’s abilities and characteristics but also to their intentions. The validation she receives from the animals around her also shows readers an important lesson: that even when we can’t see our own worth, those around us can help us find our unique gifts. The story is illustrated in bold, bright colors that evoke temperature and strong lines that suggest texture, assisting readers to imagine how Aloe’s unique properties fit into the environment around her. The text is unfussy and perfect for beginner readers.
Aloe Vera’s Special Gift is a wonderful story for launching discussions with young readers about self-worth, being yourself, and helping others.
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About the Author
Jeanette Gil is a Cuban-American storyteller with a deep love for nature and the power of healing. As a devoted advocate for kindness, self-care, and personal growth. Jeanette enjoys writing stories that inspire young minds to embrace compassion and empathy. Jeanette brings a unique perspective to children’s literature, creating stories that resonate with both children and parents alike. Aloe Vera’s Special Gift is Jeanette’s first children’s book, reflecting her commitment to nurturing young hearts with messages of love, care, and healing. She finds endless inspiration in the simple beauty of life and the joy of connecting with loved ones.
About the Illustrator
Tania Ortiz is a Colombian artist and illustrator specializing in creating beautiful children’s illustrations. With over four years of experience in the field and a degree in Illustration Design from the University of Palermo in Buenos Aires, Tania has honed her craft to perfection. She creates illustrations bursting with life and color using digital tools such as Procreate, Photoshop, and Illustrator. Her style is rooted in her love for children’s books, and she pours her heart and soul into each character she creates, be it cute animals or fantastic creatures. In her free time, Tania loves drawing animals and finding inspiration in movies and books, which continually fuel her creativity and storytelling.
Dedicated Reviews allow authors and illustrators to gain prompt visibility for their work. This is a sponsored*, non-biased review of Aloe Vera’s Special Gift. Learn more about getting a book review …
