Secret in the Mist - Softcover

Margaret Nash

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1862335621 ISBN 13: 9781862335622

Publisher: Gullane Children's Books, 2004

Synopsis

A picture book of magic and mystery! Jonathan has two secrets, one for the golden light of day and the other for the silvery light of the moon. Right now, they're both buried deep in the warm earth and the evening mist. But they're growing and growing and growing....as tall as the cat's proud tail, then as high as the door handle, and higher still, up to the windowsill... What could they be? The most beautiful, wonderful secrets of all! 32 pages (all in color), 8 1/2 x 10. NEW IN PAPERBACK

About this title

From School Library Journal:

Kindergarten-Grade 2 Minimal text and soft, impressionist illustrations tell the tale of young Jonathan, who has planted a seed and waits and watches for it to grow. By day it is his "secret in the earth," and by night it is his "secret in the mist." It's never clearly explained how or why Jonathan has latched onto this idea, but he clings to it tenaciously throughout the story. His delight and determination as he watches his flower grow is both reminiscent of and an expansion of Ruth Krauss's The Carrot Seed (HarperCollins, 1945). Here, though, Jonathan is surrounded by supportive and loving parents; there's not a naysayer in the bunch. In fact, his parents respond, "How clever of you to have made two secrets out of one!" However, the idea that this flower is a sunflower by day and a "moonflower" by night, which is the basis of the story, is confusing. "Both secrets grew and grew. One was nudged by sunshine . The other lived in silver shadows." The text curves and flows, the illustrations are done with a pastel palette, and the satisfaction Jonathan gets from his flower is truly expressed. Unfortunately, the premise of the tale is shaky at best. Jane Marino, Scarsdale Public Library, NY
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews:

A tranquil story about Jonathan and his two secrets: ``One is buried in a patch of sunny earth. The other was buried in a patch of evening mist.'' The secret in the sunny patch is a sunflower. The other secret appears to be a second flowera night-blooming cereus or a queen of the night? When the big day comes, Jonathan and his whole family stand in awe, mouths agape at the ``flashiest flower'' sister Kate has ever seen. Come night, Jonathan creeps down stairs and is joined by his father outside. There the second secret unfolds: It is not a different flower at all, but the sunflower by night, radiant still. The mystery of night adds a note of excitement to Jonathan's secret, but not enough to strain the lullaby sweetness of this story. Every page is enhanced by Lambert's soft pastels. (Picture book. 3-7) -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

About this edition

• Publisher: Gullane Children's Books
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 1862335621
• ISBN 13: 9781862335622
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Stephen Lambert