As autumn comes, with the wind raking through the falling leaves, he remembers how he and his rabbit used to hunt for the biggest leaves together. The rain of winter seems lonelier, and there's no one else to notice the flowers bursting into bloom in spring. But by summer, the young boy has begun to realise that his memories will always connect him to his old friend, and that joy is still to be found in the garden after all.
Simplicity done well is a beautiful thing, and in Here in the Garden, award-winning author and illustrator Briony Stewart has created the perfect combination of understated words, gentle illustrations (keep an eye out for the hidden rabbits!) and heartfelt emotion.
The result is a book to cherish. A sensitive exploration of love and loss, it's a beautiful way to help anyone cope with grief, reminding them, as Briony says, 'that you can always find your way back to a loved one through your heart and the memories.'
Title: Here in the Garden
Author/Illustrator: Briony Stewart
Publisher: UQP, $24.95 RRP
Publication Date: April 2014
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780702250101
For ages: 4+
Type: Picture Book
