The Imaginary Garden
by Andrew Larsen (Author) Irene Luxbacher (Illustrator)
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.
Locate at a Library Near You WorldCat is the world's largest library catalog, helping you find library materials online.
Find books about:
School Library Journal
K-Gr 2-Theo's Poppa's new apartment has no garden, and the windy balcony does not promise to be a good growing spot. But Theo proposes an imaginary garden, and she and her grandfather begin to fill a large blank canvas with a stone wall for the vines to climb on, early springtime flowers, and a visiting robin. When Poppa goes off on a trip, the painting project becomes Theo's; the garden bursts into bloom as she employs her memory, imagination, and a palette of vibrant colors. She even remembers to paint herself into the scene. The lively artwork is rendered in pen and ink and multimedia collage. The warmth of the grandparent/grandchild relationship is evident but, unfortunately, readers never witness Poppa's return and see his joy at Theo's creation. A book that more successfully shows a child as both gardener and healer is Sarah Stewart's The Gardener (Farrar, 1997). Nonetheless, this is a sweet and visually appealing addition for seasonal and gardening units.
Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with Permission.
Kirkus
Hornbook
Review quotes
Andrew Larsen is the award-winning author of many books for young readers, including In the Tree House, a TD Canadian Children's Literature Award finalist; The Bagel King, one of CCBC's Best Books for Kids and Teens; and A Squiggly Story, a finalist for the OLA's Blue Spruce Award. He lives in Toronto with his family and their dog named Sally.
Born in Hong Kong, Dawn Lo is an illustrator currently based in Vancouver, British Columbia, on the unceded lands of the Squamish, Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations. Her work has appeared in the picture books Snow Song and The Rainbow Garden Is My Friend, as well as in stationery, greeting cards, public art installations, murals and more! When she is not drawing at her home studio, she works at the public library where she can surround herself with more books.
JUV003000 - Juvenile Fiction | Art & Architecture
Imagination
Gardens
Grandparent and child
Grandfathers
Painting
