NOAH’S GARDEN

Noah has an imaginary garden filled with the flying machines and creatures he loves. It’s based on a toy-filled children’s garden adjoining the hospital he visits frequently, and someone is missing from both places—his baby sister Jessica, who is very sick. Straightforward text, gentle suspense and realistic watercolors present portions of Noah’s real life as he wishes and hopes that his sister will soon come home, while cheerful, onomatopoeic sections describe the garden of Noah’s daydreams and colorful, detailed illustrations depict his adventures there. Real-life objects—a fountain, playscapes, emergency helicopters—make their way into his daydreams, binding the two together. The alternating views ring true as they show how a child might feel worried yet still be able to find solace in his imagination, and ultimately they merge in a happy ending. A nice choice to provide comfort for a child experiencing a similar situation, this may also be useful in a therapeutic context. Based on the experiences of an Australian family. (Picture book. 4-7)