CM Magazine: The Imaginary Garden.

________________ CM . . . . Volume XV Number 13. . . .February 20, 2009.

cover
The Imaginary Garden.

Andrew Larsen. Illustrated by Irene Luxbacher.
Toronto, ON: Kids Can Press, 2009.
32 pp., hardcover, $16.95.
ISBN 978-1-55453-279-7.

Preschool-grade 2 / Ages 3-7.

Review by Helen Norrie.

*** /4

excerpt:

Poppa got out his paints. He mixed a bit of white and a bit of black. Together they made gray. Stroke by stroke, stone by stone, Poppa built a wall. It stretched from one side of the garden to the other. Above the stone wall, Theo painted a soft blue sky.

     Theo's Poppa has to move from his little house with a garden to an apartment with only a balcony. Poppa says the balcony is too windy for flowers. That's when Theo and Poppa decide to make an imaginary garden, a painted mural on the wall of the balcony.

     Theo and her Poppa plan the garden even before spring arrives. They first paint crocuses and scilla and then a robin to visit the garden. When Poppa has to go away on a trip, Theo adds daffodils and tulips and, finally, forget-me-nots, Poppa's favourite flower. As a last touch, she decides to include a couple of reclining chairs so that she and Poppa can enjoy the garden together.

     The best thing about this picture book is the illustrations. Luxbacher has lavishly used primary colours to depict the imaginary garden, making the book a delight to the eye. With its emphasis on creativity and personal expression, it could be used as a model for an elementary art class.

     Both Larsen and Luxbacher live in Toronto. We're told that the story was inspired by personal events in Larsen's life. Is there an imaginary garden someplace on a Toronto balcony?

Recommended

Helen Norrie is a former teacher-librarian who has taught Children's Literature at the University of Manitoba.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Copyright © the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.

Published by
The Manitoba Library Association
ISSN 1201-9364 Hosted by the University of Manitoba.

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