The Curious Garden

Out for a walk one day in his dreary urban neighbourhood, Liam stumbles upon a patch of dying plants growing around an abandoned railway track. Although he knows nothing about growing things, he can see the plants need a gardener, so he decides to help them. 

The story of what happens to the garden is charming, but what makes this book a favourite of mine is Liam—a little master of equanimity and confidence. Instead of feeling insecure about his lack of gardening experience and knowledge, he sees a need and gets to work. Rather than fretting about his failed attempts,… show more.

A boy in a dreary city discovers a few plants on a rooftop and begins to care for them. His garden grows, and in time his efforts lead to the transformation of his gray city to a garden city. This book looks at the possibilities for creating green spaces in drab urban landscapes. Although the other books I’m recommending are nonfiction, The Curious Garden paints a magical picture of how plants can transform our lives and communities. The book can be a call to action for children to plant their own gardens, particularly if they live in cities.