Quarto ISBN 9781633225138 £10.99
This is an enchanting story about recognizing the beauty that is to be found in the world around us. Chloe, the central character, lives in a home with a garden, but she has no real understanding of the things that are to be found there and how they can make us feel. One day she seems to hear the wind talking to her and showing her the magic that surrounds her. We are led through the varying seasons and see the animals and plants as they pass through the annual cycle of life and renewal. This is a beautiful introduction to the natural world and would be an ideal read in reception or even in nursery. The colours of the illustrations are clear but not too bright and the palette veers towards a strong use of blues, oranges and maroons. The front cover is truly lovely, with the use of gold lettering for the title and gold highlights in some of the images. The text is short and clear, giving introductions to the variety of life that we see in the garden. There is an overall calmness about the book, partially due to the white background but mainly because of the clear yet rather soft style of illustration. A nice touch at the end are the explanations about some of the animal behaviour that is shown in the story; a good mix of imagination and information.
Margaret Pemberton, School Library Adviser