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The Concrete Garden

Bob Graham author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Walker Books Ltd

Published:3rd Aug '23

Should be back in stock very soon

The Concrete Garden cover

A timely, inspiring and uplifting story about hope and the power of creative expression, from one of the world's most treasured bookmakers.
After a cold, dark winter, doors opened. Children spilled out like sweets from a box. Amanda was last one out of the tower block. She brought some chalk with her. On every inch of the concrete outside, the children drew pictures of everything they could think of, from flowers and snails, to spaceships and queens. Before long, a beautiful and exotic garden spread out across the concrete.

From master storyteller Bob Graham comes a charming, and gently post-pandemic story about finding optimism after a dark spell, and the nurturing power of community friendships in an urban setting. The Concrete Garden will resonate with anyone who has been apart from their loved ones, and will encourage us all to find the brightness and colour within ourselves.

Restrained, poetic, humorous text and joyously burgeoning pictures speak to the perennial power of shared imagination. * Guardian *
Graham finds big themes in small events: community, imagination, hope. * Sunday Times *
This simple picture book says a lot with very little text. There is an inclusive variety of people depicted, in a familiar urban setting. There are discussions to have about creativity, teamwork, and it should inspire young readers to draw. * BookTrust *
[Graham’s] mixed media images of the children and their chalk creations bejewel the pages of the book making it a joy from beginning to end. * Red Reading Hub *

  • Winner of Pennsylvania Center for the Book’s A Baker’s Dozen: The Best Children’s Books for Family Literacy 2024 (United States)
  • Winner of Shadow Judging Book of the Year Awards, Early Childhood 2024 (Australia)
  • Short-listed for CBCA Book of the Year Awards, Early Childhood 2024 (Australia)

ISBN: 9781529512649

Dimensions: 275mm x 235mm x 10mm

Weight: 200g

40 pages