Isabella's Garden
Age 3+
Nature, The Natural World
A lyrical board book for small hands that explores the growth and continual change that goes on in Isabella's garden. Told with great warmth, this is a comforting story about the cycle of life in its many forms.
Following the well known structure of The House That Jack Built, Isabella’s Garden tells the tale of growth and seasonal change, beginning and ending with "the seeds that slept in the soil all dark and deep" and how they bloom, flourish and ultimately lead to new growth.
Creators
Glenda Millard was born in the Goldfields region of Central Victoria and has lived in the area all her life. It wasn’t until Glenda's four children became teenagers that she began to write in her spare time. She has been writing full-time since 1999 and has published several books for children. Her first book with Walker Books Australia, Isabella’s Garden, has been awarded Honour Book in the Picture Book of the Year category in the 2010 Children’s Book Council of Australia Awards, and has won a Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Award, Best Book for Language Development, Lower Primary Category (5-8 years), 2010; and short-listed the Queensland Premier’s Literary Awards Children’s Book – Mary Ryan Award, 2010.
Born in Western Australia, artist and illustrator Rebecca Cool lives on a rural property on the Margaret River, WA with her husband. Rebecca has studied at the Claremont School of Fine Art and has had her work shown at a number of exhibitions. Rebecca is happiest when she is painting and creating her charming, colourful and playful compositions. Her work features a combination of oil pastels and fabric collage, and her strong, colourful works have a naïve charm reminiscent of European folk art. Isabella’s Garden (written by Glenda Millard) is her first book and has received many awards including Honour Book, Picture Book of the Year category, Children’s Book Council of Australia Awards, 2010. Rebecca was also short-listed for the Crichton Award in 2010.
Reviews
The Book Chook has a new favourite picture book. Isabella’s Garden has pushed its way into my heart and mind with beautiful, poetic writing, and eye-popping illustrations.
The Book Chook
Rebecca Cool’s superb, folksy illustrations are a riot of colour and beauty, deliciously housing Millard’s text and offering kids the perfect visual casing to this gorgeous book…
Kids' Book Review
