ISBN: 9781481439787
William stays at the Grimloch Orphanage. He hears a commotion and rushes to investigate. When he gets outside, he sees the huge tree trimmed in the shape of a “wise owl”. William can’t take his eyes off of it and stares at it until it becomes so dark he can’t see anymore. Excitedly he goes to bed, and sure as shooting, when he gets up the next morning, another surprise awaits him! William discovers a new topiary every morning, until he meets the Night Gardener and decides to help him with his creative work. The whole town admires the work of the Night Gardener and it changes the gloomy mood of the town to a festive one.
As the reader progresses through the book, more colour is added to the illustrations, beautifully resembling the life the deeds of the mysterious Night Gardener brought… and then the seasons change, and “there was no evidence that the Night Gardener had ever been to Grimloch Lane”. BUT, “the people of Grimloch Lane were never the same”.
It is a very touching story, beautifully illustrated with lots of detail, about how the kindness of one man can touch so many lives, but most importantly the one person who needs it most at that time, and the ripple effects it can have. A small act of kindness can inspire purpose.
At the end of the book, it is summer again, but the picture is so different from the one at the beginning!
