Beautiful

A young gardener and Uncle George collaborate on a garden, so that when a very sick Uncle George comes home from the doctor he is greeted with beautiful flowers

Kindergarten-Grade 3ABurgeoning life and imminent death are contrasted in this moving story about Uncle George, who is terminally ill, and his young nephew. The boy describes how his uncle gives him a birthday present of gardening tools and explains how to plant and nurture seeds. Then the man leaves for the hospital. The green shoots finally appear, then bud, and then bloom, just as Uncle George returns to spend his final days at home. When his nephew brings him a freshly picked bouquet, he shares the joy of the flowers' beauty and knows that after his death the garden will be a lasting link between them. Luminous, soft, acrylic paintings, both full-page and vignette, have a subdued, reflective quality that complements the straightforward, yet sensitive text. The reality of the situation is not downplayed, as the changes in Uncle George's physical appearance are marked and the likelihood of his survival remote, but the overall feeling of love and renewed life in nature gives the story a poignant, positive message.APatricia Pearl Dole, formerly at First Presbyterian School, Martinsville, VA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

A gift from an uncle to his nephew blossoms into a deeper bond in this quiet and subtle picture book from the creators of I'll See You When the Moon Is Full. Uncle George is a gardener who "makes dark places bright and turns ordinary places into something wonderful." But Uncle George is unwell and must go away for special treatment. For his nephew's birthday, the man gives him all he needs to start his own garden and to assuage the boy's loneliness, saying, "Maybe you won't feel I'm so far away." The boy faithfully cares for his garden, and exchanges postcards and phone calls with his uncle about his seedlings' progress. When Uncle George comes home to spend his final days, he's too weak to go outside, so his nephew brings the garden to him, in the shape of a colorful bouquet. Susi Gregg Fowler's poignant depiction of the bond between nephew and uncle unfolds through the boy's perspective and primarily through dialogue, keeping the emotions immediate for readers. While the characters in Jim Fowler's acrylic portraits come off stiffly, he makes excellent use of light and shadow and successfully evokes the colors and atmosphere of those early spring days. Together, author and artist effectively chart both the glorious promise of the garden as well as the deeper themes of love and loss. Ages 4-up.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Ages 4^-7. Knowing that he will be away for a long time receiving treatments for his illness, Uncle George gives his nephew the gift of life by teaching him how to garden, nurture the young plants, and enjoy the harvest of flowers. While Uncle George is away, he and his nephew correspond by postcards. Frail, weak, and much changed, Uncle George returns, but the boy comes to realize and understand that his uncle will not recover from his illness. Although the ending is abrupt, the story and illustrations sensitively depict Uncle George's deterioration, the boy's understanding of the situation, and their shared love of gardening. This is a difficult subject to discuss with young children, but it is presented effectively in this picture book. Young children who are facing similar situations may find comfort in this warm, loving story about the joys of life and the eventuality of death. April Judge