The Incredible Edible Garden

The Incredible Edible Garden by Victoria Breheny, illustrated by Jemma Phillips (Little Steps Publishing)

PB RRP $18.95

ISBN: 9781925117479

Reviewed by Anne Hamilton

Annie’s father is afraid of grass. Fortunate then that they live in an apartment block; unfortunate that Annie’s favourite colour is green, not grey. One day on her way home from school Annie meets Rosemary and is invited into the incredible edible garden.

She is introduced to luscious fruits and vibrant vegetables, taught about the healing power of food and given lessons in making herbal teas. (The yummy ideas made me disappointed there were no recipes in the book!)

When Rosemary’s birthday comes around, even Annie’s dad is persuaded to go, if only to see the ‘overgrown wonderland’ he’s heard so much about. But the spectacular event changes his mind—and he decides he’s no longer afraid of grass. In fact, he wants a rooftop incredible edible garden. 

Simple, colourful illustrations bring this gentle story for preschoolers to green-hued life. An obvious love of gardening pervades every page.

Bucket Sheep

Bucket Sheep written and illustrated by Jemma Phillips (Little Steps Publishing)

PB RRP $16.95

ISBN: 9781925117387

Reviewed by Anne Hamilton

A theft, a chase, a sneeze, a happy ending.

 

This simple story features a sheep with a cunning plan: to gain an entire blue bucket of hay for herself. While the farmer isn’t looking, this sheep tries to gobble as much feed as possible. But, in its haste to get to the very last titbit, the bucket gets stuck on its head.

 

The world goes blue and the sheep sets off in fright.

 

The farmer and his wife try to help but, every time they get close, the sheep runs away. Eventually the tickle of the remaining hay gets too much and the sheep sneezes off the bucket.

 

Much of the delight of this early reader comes from the realisation the story is based on a true incident at ‘Marble’s Run’ farm near Bendigo in Victoria.

 

Delicate illustrations exude a warm simplicity in perfect harmony with the gentle tone of the story. In addition, cute little Sedgwick the Mouse is hiding on every page, waiting to be found by observant readers.