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The Curious Garden

by Peter Brown

The Curious Garden Cover

Staff Pick

This tender, hopeful story is reminiscent of the classic Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney. A tale of a boy who creates an urban garden, The Curious Garden is the perfect book for brightening up the drab winter.
Recommended by Karen, Powells.com

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

One boy's quest for a greener world... one garden at a time.

While out exploring one day, a little boy named Liam discovers a struggling garden and decides to take care of it. As time passes, the garden spreads throughout the dark, gray city, transforming it into a lush, green world.

This is an enchanting tale with environmental themes and breathtaking illustrations that become more vibrant as the garden blooms. Red-headed Liam can also be spotted on every page, adding a clever seek-and-find element to this captivating picture book.

Review:

"Brown's (Chowder) latest is a quiet but stirring fable of urban renewal, sure to capture imaginations. In exploring his bleak city neighborhood, thoughtful Liam — in Brown's warm, almost fuzzy acrylic spreads, he looks a little like a friendly, redheaded wooden puppet — notices that some flowering plants have appeared on an old elevated railway track. He teaches himself to care for them ('The flowers nearly drowned and he had a few pruning problems, but the plants patiently waited while Liam found better ways of gardening'), and the garden responds by 'growing restless. It wanted to explore.' In one of several wordless spreads, Liam stands against a bright blue sky, surrounded by a thick patch of daisies. Spring brings a burst of new energy: 'the tough little weeds and mosses set out first. They popped up farther and farther from the railway.... but the most surprising things that popped up were the new gardeners.' In Brown's utopian vision, the urban and the pastoral mingle to joyfully harmonious effect — especially on the final pages, which show a city filled with rooftop gardens, fantastic topiaries, windmills and sparkling ponds. Ages 3 — 6." Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Synopsis:

Brown presents an enchanting tale with environmental themes and breathtaking illustrations that become more vibrant as the garden blooms. Red-headed Liam can also be spotted on every page, adding a seek-and-find element to this picture book. Full color.

What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 2 comments:
Kim Griswell, September 14, 2009 (view all comments by Kim Griswell)
Portland isn't the only city going green! New York City has been busy transforming an old raised railroad into a green trail that runs along the west side of Manhattan. Inspired by NYC's just-opened High Line Park Above the City, The Curious Gardener shows what a single urban kid can do to transform drab into dramatic, grungy into green. A must-buy for urban parents who want to empower their kids to see green possibilities all around.
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Emma Peabody, September 6, 2009 (view all comments by Emma Peabody)
The Curious Garden is a beautiful story of a kid named Liam and what happens when he finds "a lonely patch of color" in a quite bleak city.

Liam's earnest, quietly confident determination is just right and this is a great book for kids and adults alike.

There's an inspiring, practical message here and absolutely no preachiness. Wonderful illustrations tie it all together.

You'll love it!
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780316015479
Author:
Brown, Peter
Publisher:
Little, Brown Young Readers
Subject:
Gardening
Subject:
City and town life
Subject:
Nature & the Natural World - Environment
Subject:
Lifestyles - City & Town Life
Subject:
Nature & the Natural World - Weather
Subject:
Nature & the Natural World - Gardening
Publication Date:
April 2009
Binding:
Hardcover
Grade Level:
Baby - Kindergarten
Language:
English
Illustrations:
Y
Pages:
40
Dimensions:
11.30x8.82x.40 in. .89 lbs.
Children's Book Type:
Picture / Wordless
Age Level:
02-05

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