"A touching parable about human connection." —Kirkus Reviews

Grandpa has a surprise for Lissy: Together, they’ll take care of an overgrown garden. For months they work side by side, and the garden slowly comes back to life. When the lavender begins to bloom, its scent brings back memories, and Lissy suddenly understands why this garden is so special.

A sweet story about working together, taking care of nature, and remembering important people in our lives. For flower lovers ages 5 years and up.

About The Author

Ellen DeLange

Ellen DeLange has been fascinated by picture books ever since she was a child growing up in the Netherlands. In the attic of her home, she assembled a small library and shared her collection with friends and family. As an adult, she started traveling and expanded her library with picture books from all over the world. Ellen also enjoyed inventing her own stories and was encouraged by her daughter to write her first picture book, A Story with a Tail. She always has new story ideas in her head and can’t wait for the moment when the text and illustrations come together to make the magic happen. Ellen has a doctorate in medical sciences, and currently lives in Canada, where she loves to walk in the woods with her Jack Russell terriers (who are featured in some of her books), drink lots of tea after a busy day, and sail on the ocean to clear her mind.

Series by the Author

Animals in Need

About The Illustrator

Ilaria Zanellato

Ilaria Zanellato (1993) was born in the northwest of Italy. She graduated from the Art High School in Novara. Thanks to a scholarship, she attended the IED Institute in Turin and obtained a degree in Illustration and Visual Communication. Nowadays, Ilaria works as an author and illustrator of children’s books. She creates her own worlds by using collage, colored pencils, graphite, and acrylics. She was selected for the First Little Hakka International Picture Book Competition (2017), became a finalist in the Golden Pinwheel Young Illustrators Competition (2018), and won the Posterheroes Contest (2019).

Product Details

Publisher: Clavis Publishing (January 12, 2027)
Length: 32 pages
ISBN13: 9798890633118
Ages: 5 - 9

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Raves and Reviews

Grandpa has a surprise for young Lissy. As the two take a walk, Grandpa reveals a wildly overgrown garden and hints at its past: “We have a lot of work to do, that’s true, but when we’re finished, you’ll see how beautiful it is. Just like it was once before.” That autumn, Grandpa and Lissy clear away dead leaves and weeds. When snow blankets the space in winter, they plan to repair the fence to keep out the hungry rabbits eyeing the garden. In spring, the pair continue working, and presto—soon there’s a “a blooming, vibrant garden, filled with sweet-smelling flowers.” Among them is lavender, the key to the garden’s past: It used to be Grandma’s. Lissy recalls the dried lavender that Grandma had hanging all around the house. Now the garden is Lissy’s—and a link to both grandparents. Originally published in Belgium and the Netherlands and translated from Dutch, this tale goes light on the specifics of gardening; despite Lissy telling Grandpa that she’d like to grow strawberries, peonies, and a cherry tree, we don’t see the pair purchasing seeds or saplings, and we don’t learn much about the work that they do, apart from removing dead leaves to allow the rosebuds beneath to sprout. The focus here is on the emotional impact of the garden, and that’s where Zanellato’s lovely, stylized, clear illustrations soar. Both Lissy and Grandpa are pale-skinned. A touching parable about human connection.