My Nana's Garden

This is the sweet tale of a little girl in her Nana's garden, discovering it for the first time and learning how to look after it and why it is so big and messy!  The story shifts in time and the girl loses her Nana and moves in, to look after the garden and eventually take it over with her own family.

The author and illustrator have made the story short, sweet and with an easy rhyming pattern that allows children to enjoy it from an early age. The story is also educational and can help children understand how to look after their gardens, as well as learning about the seasons.

The book can be used with a wide range of ages to tackle bereavement within a family, in a sensitive and caring way, thinking about ways in which you can remember someone. I would use this book in class to help and support children with family loss but also as a PSHE lesson to link and discuss this to a sensitive issue.

The illustrations fit perfectly within the story told, and are sensitive to the issue of family loss. They are full of detail and bring the story to life but also help children with identifying different seasons and what these include. I liked the range of large images with detail and multiple ones on a page showing the changes of seasons throughout the garden.

Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot and I think it will be a great addition to both schools and families.

Picture Book / Reviewed by Lauren Maidman, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 3+