When all seems lost, hope finds a way.
It's almost spring, and Sparrow can't wait to enjoy his favorite garden--until he discovers that it's been neglected and overrun with weeds and dead plants. It looks terrible! Discouraged and feeling hopeless, Sparrow is ready to give up, when his friends Mousie, Buck, and Turtle show up to help return the garden to its former glory. Over the course of forty days, the friends work the soil, pull out dead plants and weeds, plant seeds, and transplant flowers, hoping the garden will be ready for Easter.
Slowly but surely, the garden begins to come back to life--only to be devastated again by an unexpected storm! Determined to resurrect the garden, the friends toil all weekend. Early on Easter morning, Sparrow returns to the garden full of trepidation. As the sun rises, his sadness turns to joy. The garden is bursting with new life! Sparrow and his friends lift their voices in song, celebrating the joy of Easter and the hope of resurrection.
A lovely addition to the Sparrow Stories series, just in time for Easter and a world so desperately in need of hope.
About the Author :
Roger Hutchison is an award-winning author, illustrator, creative communicator, and lay ministry leader in the Episcopal Church. Roger is known for his compassionate work with children affected by tragedy and for his openness about his journey with ADHD, anxiety, and depression. He is the author of the Sparrow Stories picture book series along with several other books, including My Favorite Color Is Blue, Sometimes: A Journey through Loss with Art and Color, The Very Best Day: The Way of Love for Children, and The Gift of Baptism. Roger lives in Texas with his wife, Kristin.
Ag Jatkowska is an illustrator who lives and works in the United Kingdom. With a passion for creating whimsical scenes full of cute animals, soft colors, and various textures, Ag has illustrated dozens of children's books for publishers all over the world. In her spare time, she loves to discover new places and take long walks with her family. She is fascinated by different cultures, and loves film, theatre, and chocolate.
Review :
"An appealing representation of the Lenten period to share with young children." --Kirkus Reviews
"Sparrow's Easter Garden is a thoughtfully written and beautifully illustrated book that helps children understand the meaning of the Lenten season. Roger Hutchison's approach to Holy Week is both intentional and accessible--perfect for children of all ages." --The Rev. Bridget Kokolis, Minister to Children, First Baptist Greenville, Greenville, SC
"By walking through the cycle of death and resurrection in the garden, Sparrow's Easter Garden provides the young and the young at heart an accessible on-ramp to the embodied and transcendent mysteries of Lent and Easter. Together, Hutchison andJatkowska have created a story that ignites the imagination and encourages conversation around this most holy season." --Jerusalem Jackson Greer, Agrarian Minister, author of A Homemade Year and At Home in this Life, and co-founder of Good News Gardens
"A timeless story for all ages. Sparrow's Easter Garden is all the sermon any of us need! Grandpa recommended!" --Brian Sellers Petersen, The Faithful Agrarian
"The question you should be asking yourself is not whether or not you need this book for your collection but how many copies do you need." --Practical Resources for Churches
