The Chalk Garden

Emma longs for birds to visit her. But she doesn’t have a garden with flowers and plants – just concrete slabs. Then a loose concrete block leads to something more and Emma is able to bring the concrete patio to life – but will her wish come true? Will a bird come?

This is a charming picture book that reveals more than might be immediately seen at first sight. It is a simple story – one that will chime with contemporary themes around the environment. However, the author does not take us on a world tour. Rather, in keeping with a young audience she concentrates on the immediate and personal; Emma and the creation of a garden within her own living space – and without spelling out any lesson, perhaps, inspiring another child to follow her example. However, Emma is not the only one involved. The reader will gradually realise that in parallel, Emma’s father is creating a garden for the family. While Emma’s will bring colour and blossoms, his will bring fruit and vegetables. This is skilfully and subtly done – the view of the father brushing up leaves, his feet and the edge of a wheelbarrow in another spread and then the frames for the bean plants in the background. The illustrations are as direct and simple. Emma is very much the centre of the action; a very real little girl. Garland makes full use of each page sometimes to create vignettes that bring movement – the passage of the seasons, perhaps, attractively composed without panes, rather a continuous narrative. Then there are double page spreads which bring Emma and her plot into close-up.  Inspired by chalk drawings created by children on walls and pavements, the colours and technique mirror the soft textures of chalk enhancing the quiet immediacy of the story. A very attractive addition to any bookshelf.