Friday, February 2, 2024

Imagine a Garden by Rina Singh and Hoda Hadadi - ADVISABLE

Imagine a Garden : Stories of Courage Changing the World
by Rina Singh, illustrated by Hoda Hadadi.
PICTURE BOOK NON-FICTION Greystone Kids, 2023. $19. 9781771647137 

Content: PG. One story features tear gas grenades. It doesn't focus on the effects of the tear gas. In another story, a woman receives threats for helping refugees. The threats are not described. 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS, HS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Written in free verse, Singh tells seven stories from around the world of people who took difficult circumstances, and, with courage and resilience, did small things to change the world. A woman in Palestine turns empty tear gas canisters into planters for a flower garden. An artist in Mexico uses the pieces of dismantled illegal weapons to create musical instruments. A soccer lover moves to South Africa and, despite his own troubles, becomes a friend and soccer coach to local boys, helping to keep them in school. Singh includes an ""about the stories"" section at the end.  

I LOVED this book! The cut-paper art was mesmerizing. You don't have to have money or do something big and grandiose to change the world. I found myself wanting to learn more about the people and places in this book. The people in this book are from Palestine, Brazil, India, South Africa, Canada (native), Mexico, and Greece. 

Rachel, Elementary Library Specialist

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