My nana's garden is tangled with weeds. "Wildflowers," says Nana, "food for the bees."
A little girl visits her grandmother in summer and winter, and together they explore the wonders of her garden. Until, one day, Nana isn't there anymore. But as winter gives way to spring, the girl learns that life goes on, and so does the memory of those we love.
Jessica Courtney-Tickle's favorite thing to draw or paint is nature. She is influenced by vintage picture books, travel posters, and folk art as well as numerous painters and printmakers. She uses a mixture of hand-painted backgrounds and digital effects to give her work a heavily textured and decorative appeal. She is the author-illustrator of Little Christmas Tree. Jessica Courtney-Tickle lives in England surrounded by trees and lots of local wildlife.
While the text discusses the weather and seasons, the images convey a larger meaning. When winter comes, the garden is snow-covered, bare, and quiet. Its emptiness demonstrates that Nana is now gone. . . Life, loss, and rebirth are captured in this poignant, poetic, and ultimately upbeat tribute to the importance of family and connection.
--Booklist