The Imaginary Garden
by Andrew Larsen
illustrated by Irene Luxbacher
- Short-listed, Shining Willow Award, Saskatchewan Young Readers’ Choice Award
- Short-listed, Great Lakes Great Books, Michigan Reading Association
- Short-listed, Blue Spruce Award, Ontario Library Association
- Short-listed, Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator’s Award, Canadian Library Association
- Short-listed, Ruth & Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Award
- Winner, Outstanding International Book, USBBY
- Winner, Best Books for Kids & Teens, Starred Selection, Canadian Children’s Book Centre
- Short-listed, Governor General’s Literary Award, Children’s Illustration, Canada Council for the Arts
- Short-listed, Book of the Year, Foreword Magazine
Theodora loved her grandfather's old garden. His new apartment's balcony is too windy and small for a garden. But what appears to be a drawback soon leads to a shared burst of creativity as Theo and her Poppa decide to paint a new garden. As they work side by side -- sowing seeds with brushes and paint -- a masterpiece begins to take shape that transforms the balcony into an abundant garden. When Poppa goes away on holiday, Theo helps nurture the garden and it begins to take on a life of its own. This garden grows not from soil but from love, imagination and creativity. Readers will marvel at each stage of this fertile garden as it grows from seed to full flower, revealing the power of art to enrich our lives.
close this panelMore than the gardening or even the flowers, the dance of imagination between grandfather and grandchild is sweetly filigreed across the pages.
As fresh and vibrant as a spring bouquet, this joyous offering will delight children, particularly young artists, throughout the year.
The Imaginary Garden affirms both a warm bond between grandparent and child and the transformative power of the creative imagination.
... sweet and visually appealing ...
close this panel
