By Bob Graham (author) , Bob Graham (illustrator)
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A timely, inspiring and uplifting story about hope and the power of creative expression, from one of the world's most treasured bookmakers. "Graham finds big themes in small events: community, imagination, hope." Sunday Times "Restrained, poetic, humorous text and joyously burgeoning pictures speak to the perennial power of shared imagination." Guardian "Inclusive and familiar … about creativity and teamwork. It should inspire young readers to draw." Booktrust 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 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
'Graham’smixed 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 the Kate Greenaway and Smarties Gold Medals and the Australian Children’s Book of the Year Award an unprecedented three times, Bob Graham has written and illustrated many acclaimed children’s books, including How to Heal a Broken Wing and Jethro Byrde, Fairy Child .
Bob Graham lives in Victoria, Australia, with his wife, Carolyn, a printmaker who makes landscapes out of lino and wood. They have two grown-up children, Naomi, a musician and refugee worker living in London, and Peter, an artist in Melbourne making big, beautiful, ethereal paintings in oil. They have two grandchildren, Oliver and his older sister Rosie - and to them he is "Bob" rather than "Grandad" (somehow that name has the feeling of pipes, carpet slippers and rocking chairs; and he's not quite ready for that). He reads them books (mostly other people's and, very occasionally, his own), and they just blob around and go to the park, and things like that. Like a grandad and grandchildren are supposed to do.
"I lived with my mum, dad, my older sister and my grandmother - and a cat called Smokey. There was still a bit of bush around our suburb, where I could muck about. I could sometimes ride my scooter the entire length of the street in the gutter. There were few parked cars back in those days. I read Boys Own annuals from England, Hans Christian Andersen and Brothers Grimm stories from Europe, and America provided the superheroes in comic book form: Superman, Captain Marvel, The Phantom (the ghost who walks) and even Popeye, who constantly rescued his girlfriend, Olive Oyl, from the clutches of Bluto (all it took was a can of spinach). My course for a lifetime of interesting reading was set."
"Every time a computer graphics course is advertised in the local paper, I say, "I MUST go." But I always have something else to do, it seems. So I still use a pen dipped in ink, and chalks and watercolour, and scissors and sticky tape. Oh yes, and sometimes I tap out some words on my computer. And that suits me just fine."
Things you didn't know about Bob Graham
I like surfing and Irish music.
I like the sound of dogs' ears flapping.
I like chillies, coffee, chocolate and reading in bed.
I like Bob Dylan, babies, breakfast and beer.
I like looking out of the window, sitting in the sun and drawing.
I like skateboarders, rock and roll and interesting parcels.
I like family photo albums, train journeys and reunions at airports.
I dislike dog catchers (of dogs just having fun).
I dislike progressive barn dances.
And I dislike bullies.
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It should inspire young readers to draw." BooktrustAfter a cold, dark winter, doors opened. Children spilled out like sweets from a box.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed The Concrete Garden and determined it is suitable for children aged 3-4 years old
The Concrete Garden features in the following genres: Ecological and Environmental Interest - Fiction, Recommendations, Stories about Family and Friends, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Featured Books for 3+ readers
Paperback, Hardback. £7.19, down from the £7.99 cover price. In Stock.
The Concrete Garden was written by Bob Graham and published by Walker Books Ltd an imprint of Walker Books
The Concrete Garden has 40 pages
£7.19, reduced from £7.99. In Stock.
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