“The Secret Sky Garden” (2018, Simon & Schuster) is the creation of the team Linda Sarah and Fiona Lumbers. A book about making a difference in the world by creating something beautiful – a garden that leads to unique friendship.
This book review contains spoilers.
Funni is a girl who loves to spend her time in ‘the old airport car park’. She goes there with her favourite toys: the Kestrel Warrior kite and her recorder. She enjoys playing the tunes of the surrounding environment, but it seems it is not enough: “something was missing. Definitely”. The little girl decided to improve the place by cleaning it and planting seeds into the soil. The creation was a beautiful, colourful garden contrasting the nearby city. Another child appreciated the beauty of the site. Zoo, who was landing from a visit from his father’s place, thought: “WOW!”… I have to go there.” And he did. Funni and Zoo enjoyed their company; they flew kites together and played music on the recorder and the harmonica, creating lovely tunes. As a result, a beautiful friendship blossomed.
The book conveys that everyone can contribute to the world and improve it. And Funni is a great example: she creates a colourful world of her own. However, an adult figure could add to the safety of the story as the little girl stays alone in an isolated, abandoned, dirty place, and she does an unpleasant job of clearing the site without support. The illustration made by Fiona Lumbers adds to the written words, and the well-chosen pallet of the pictures shows the transformation between the deserted place at first and the subsequent result that Funni achieved.
A cross-curriculum book for topics in the Key Stage 1 and Lower Key Stage 2 (7-9 years of age). It is an excellent resource in Geography to discuss the impact of litter on the environment. And to writing activity: How can you improve your local community? “The Secret Sky Garden” can be an addition to the Science topic of plants as an extra reading before home time or as an Art flower collage or painting.
An attempt to create a better place, one step at a time!
The Stats:
- Title: The Secret Sky Garden
- Author and Illustrator: Linda Sarah & Fiona Lumbers
- ISBN: 978-1-4711-1926-2 (PB)
- Publication Date: 2018
- Page Count: 32
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster
- Recommended age: 5-9
Further Information:
If you loved The Secret Sky Garden, check out more information about its author and illustrator:
• Read the interview with Linda Sarah and Fiona Lumbers at the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education
Free resources
• Download educational resources for the classroom.
Where to Find it:
• Buy on Amazon: The Secret Sky Garden
• Find on: Goodreads
