Saturday, August 22, 2015

Here in the Garden by Briony Stewart –OPTIONAL

Stewart, Briony Here in the Garden Kane Miller, 2015 $11.99  PICTURE BOOK
A little boy enjoys a garden through out with changing seasons of the year, while wishing for that ‘you were here’. Eventually we can see a little rabbit sort of joining him in the illustrations, an animal friend to comfort him and provide companionship. Or is the ghost of a rabbit pet he lost? I can't tell.  
This book made me cry. I don’t know if it would help a child grieving a loss of a friend or parent or make them miss them more. While the goal of art can be to invoke an emotional response, I think for a child it might be better to focus on the good memories of someone/something rather than living life without them yet constantly wishing they were there. The illustrations are wonderful and full of movement.
EL(K-3) –OPTIONAL Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author.

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