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aretz's review against another edition
3.0
Visually really nice, but it felt like the gardener was missing in the story.
carolynj_reads's review against another edition
4.0
This is a beautifully illustrated book. I like how the light and colors become more vivid as the story progresses.
aaafamilyreads's review against another edition
4.0
A little bit Mysterious with a wholesome message. A young boy discovers a tree that has been transformed into a wonderful animal topiary. Soon more and more of these creations take shape, always over night and anonymously. The lovely creations draw the community out into nature and infuse joy and happiness into the neighborhood. Illustrations are cool. Good for young kids through slightly older readers, up to middle school.
ker0wyn's review against another edition
4.0
Really sweet, with charming illustrations. The night gardener looks like such a nice old man :)
gohnar23's review against another edition
3.0
An effortless read—Truly one with many short scenarios that encapsulates the mysterious aura that the night gardener have.
libzesawyer's review against another edition
5.0
Stunning illustrations. Pair with Grandpa Green by Lane Smith.
kate_m_m's review against another edition
4.0
Illustrations could put it in Caldecott contention, and the story is sweet but insubstantial.
srujan's review against another edition
5.0
I begin with a confession - I picked up this book from the Kindle Unlimited catalogue purely on the reputation of the Fan Brothers as gifted illustrators and the praise I had read for their illustrations. I wasn't sure my tinies were ready for it. However, we truly loved reading The Night Gardener. The story is uncomplicated and it might even feel like it has a very classic ending with no takeaway. We read it just for its mythical, magical mood, simply as an appreciation for this artistic branch of horticulture. As an appreciation for the joy that well crafted public places can infuse in us and the society.
The story starts with a slight sadness because we paused to understand the term orphan and orphanage. It wasn't strictly necessary, but I felt it was necessary to highlight why was William so taken with the topiary. In paucity of resources, the smallest of things spark joy. So I was hoping this would be a gentle, non preachy way for them to understand privilege. A boy named William, who lives at the Grimloch Orphanage, wakes up to find a tree outside his window transformed, as if by the wave of a wand, into a mesmerising topiary - a wise owl looking kindly at the William's Window. In the following days, more topiaries appear. The mysterious garden seems to appear out of the thin air as the dark night descends and vanishes just as quickly, almost drifting away like the fog just around the sunrise. But one day, Williams stumbles upon the illusive garden as he is on his way to weave his magic. And everything changes, for William, and for the town.
The Tinies also learnt about topiaries and horticulture and gardening. But mostly we looked at the gorgeous artwork. As the story progressed, the grey sketches gave way to vibrant, eye catching images that seemed to come alive as a new joy seemed spread through the town. I think we would read it again purely for the images. ❤️
The story starts with a slight sadness because we paused to understand the term orphan and orphanage. It wasn't strictly necessary, but I felt it was necessary to highlight why was William so taken with the topiary. In paucity of resources, the smallest of things spark joy. So I was hoping this would be a gentle, non preachy way for them to understand privilege. A boy named William, who lives at the Grimloch Orphanage, wakes up to find a tree outside his window transformed, as if by the wave of a wand, into a mesmerising topiary - a wise owl looking kindly at the William's Window. In the following days, more topiaries appear. The mysterious garden seems to appear out of the thin air as the dark night descends and vanishes just as quickly, almost drifting away like the fog just around the sunrise. But one day, Williams stumbles upon the illusive garden as he is on his way to weave his magic. And everything changes, for William, and for the town.
The Tinies also learnt about topiaries and horticulture and gardening. But mostly we looked at the gorgeous artwork. As the story progressed, the grey sketches gave way to vibrant, eye catching images that seemed to come alive as a new joy seemed spread through the town. I think we would read it again purely for the images. ❤️