![]() A dapper elderly man with a green leaf shining in his pocket passes him, and the magic begins. ![]() The book begins on Grimloch Lane, a street where every head hangs down and an orphan boy, William, is down in the dumps. With spare text and a simple palette, The Night Gardener tells the story of a depressed town’s transformation with the help of a nocturnal gardener. VERDICT An elegant picture book that celebrates creativity and community for first purchase.- Lisa Nowlain, Darien Library, CT While most of the characters are white, a few background characters wandering through the trees are people of color. The illustrations look like a more cheerful Edward Gorey, done with a blend of fine-tip ink and pencil work and watercolor, with the night portrayed in pearly monochromatic blues. William gets to tag along one night, and as the season changes, the work of creating community-revitalizing topiaries is passed to him. People begin playing outside, drawing, playing the tuba, and looking up in wonder: it’s an urban planner’s delight. ![]() Every night, a new fantastical topiary appears in a tree on Grimloch Lane, to the neighborhood’s delight. ![]() ![]() ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |