Mrs Noah's Garden; Jackie Morris, illustrated by James Mayhew

From the duo that created Mrs. Noah’s Pockets comes another wonderful read about the loveable Mrs. Noah and her very deep pockets.

Mr and Mrs Noah have survived the storm, the animals are safe and their ark has finally settled upon dry land. Life aboard the ark is splendid but there is one thing that Mrs. Noah misses more than anything else…her garden. So whilst Mr. Noah begins work on making the ark more homely, Mrs. Noah sets about solving her garden problem by creating her own. After finding the perfect spot for her garden, she sets about the process of getting the land ready and clearing space. With the help of the children and some mythical creatures it isn’t long until the ground is ready. Deep in her pockets are the seeds that she will grow and these are scattered across the ground. Mrs. Noah waters and tends the seeds, the children watch and everyone waits…then on the morning after Midsummer’s Eve there is the most unbelievable of sights…

I am so delighted to see the return of one of my favourite picture book characters. If you have not read Mrs. Noah’s Pockets then I strongly recommend seeking it out. This latest story sees Mr and Mrs. Noah having survived the storm, rescued the animals and beginning to build a new life in a new land. The book is a celebration of new beginnings and of the restorative power of nature.

The collage style illustrations are sensational and they unfold beautifully with the story. Colours start off dark and grey to show the rocky landscape that Mrs. Noah hopes to transform. As the narrative unfolds and Mrs. Noah cultivates the land there are earthy brown colours before these give way to a wonderful rainbow of colours as the garden flourishes and blooms. The last few pages of the book are an absolute feast of colour and nature.

This is a book that will make readers want to get out and grow their own gardens as Mrs. Noah shows that a garden can be created absolutely anywhere.

Recommended for 7+.