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CM . . .
. Volume IX Number 8. . . . December 13, 2002
excerpt: For those who love classics of children's literature, The Secret Garden is invariably on the list of favorites. Perhaps it is the garden itself that is so intriguing walled and mysterious, a wonderful secluded space in which to play and dream undisturbed. Or perhaps it is the mixture of odd characters in the book from "upstairs" and "below stairs." All of these elements converge in The Secret Garden to make it one of the most enduring and well known children's books ever written. After one finishes The Secret Garden, questions arise that cannot always be answered, such as "Was the secret garden a real place?" "Was there really a robin like the one who lived in the secret garden?" "What did the secret garden look like?" We wanted to answer some of the questions that arose when we had read it, first as children, and later with our daughters. Readers of this wonderful compendium of information and ideas can fully enter the world of the classic children's book, The Secret Garden. The authors have collaborated previously on other popular books about classic works of children's literature and their creators, including The Anne of Green Gables Treasury (Viking, 1991) and Inside Laura's Little House: The Little House on the Prairie Treasury (HarperCollins, 2000). The authors researched their material for their latest book in Britain and the United States and have included several family photos of Burnett in the biography section. The book contains many interesting facts about Burnett, which will add to the reader's appreciation of her novels. The authors tell of Burnett's inspirations for the plot of The Secret Garden and how various gardens and houses became the models for the fictional garden and Misselthwaite Manor. The book has fascinating features not found in other books about authors including a time line of Burnett's life placing the major events of her life in historical perspective. At the end of the book, there is an explanation of many of the words of the novel which will be helpful for contemporary readers. This handsome book supplies a wealth of information and ideas for celebrating the novel with children. There are numerous recipes for items like Mary and Colin's breakfast foods and even a recipe for the currant buns which the children eat in the secret garden. The activities section contains instructions for making a skipping rope like Mary's and some wonderful traditional English skipping rhymes. The book also includes an excellent index. Several illustrations in the book are by Tasha Tudor from her edition of The Secret Garden, and they are done in a gentle Victorian style. Mary Collier has also added numerous fresh and softly colored illustrations which contribute to the attractiveness and layout of this very appealing book. Library programmers will find a source of ideas for children's programs, and parents can use the ideas to plan "secret garden" birthday parties. Children will also enjoy learning more about this classic novel which will enhance their appreciation of its theme of hope and renewal. Highly Recommended. Lorraine Douglas is the Youth Services Coordinator for the Winnipeg Public Library in Winnipeg, MB.
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