Isabella's garden by Glenda Millard and Rebecca Cool
Walker Books, 2009. ISBN 9781921150333.
(Ages 5-10) Highly recommended. A picture
book not to be missed, Isabella's
garden is a feast for all the senses: Cool's rich and rewarding
illustrations stun
the eye and Millard's brilliant language appeals to the ear as it
evokes the
life cycle of a garden in an unforgettable way.
It is the story of Isabella's garden where the soil is 'all dark
and
deep' and where Isabella and her friends plant the seeds that emerge
into a
glorious garden, changing with the seasons until Jack Frost comes and
all that
is left is a well-feathered nest and a handful of seeds.
This beautiful story uses as a basis the old rhyme This is
the house that Jack built, with language rich with alliteration and
imagery.
The repetitive and quite challenging rhyme will challenge older readers
while
younger children will love to listen to the rhythm of the words.
Wonderful illustrations are full of vibrant colours, rich
greens, purples and reds, with lovely patterns on the clothes and hats
that the
children wear. Jack Frost is a wonderful
creature with a jester's hat and incredible mantle of 'sequins and
shimmer' that
he spreads over the garden.
This is a very worthy addition to a library and classroom and an
outstanding gift for children.
Pat Pledger