Author(s): Eric Fan, Terry Fan

General Picture Books

When an orphan boy meets a mysterious gardener, lacklustre Grimloch Lane is transformed in to a street where magic happens.

When William sees the trees in the park outside of his orphanage taking shape as an owl, a cat, a magnificent dragon and a range of other exotic creatures he is as entranced as all his neighbours, but when he follows an unfamiliar stranger who invites him to help his "night gardening" the gift of topiary becomes his salvation. Not only does it bring happiness to William but to the whole neighbourhood, and when winter eventually takes the leaves away they are all changed, the area rejuvenated, and William's loneliness has been replaced by a sense of purpose.

The redemptive powers of art and nature shine from this book by Canadian brothers Eric and Terry Fan, graphically illustrated in vintage style backdrops and a changing light that add to atmosphere.

John