The Gardener

A young Amish girl takes first visit to the big city: Chicago. Every night Hannah sits down to write in her diary and share everything she sees in the big city — all the buildings and the people. She also shares her homesickness for the small rural town that is home. A charming guide from a young traveler.

Elizabeth Brown was different from the start. She loved reading more than just about anything else. When it was clear that her house could hold no more books, Elizabeth moved in with a friend and donated house and books to her town as a free public library! Elizabeth’s life — from baby to old age — is revealed through jaunty rhyme and sprightly watercolors that evoke an earlier time.

Isabel and her mother hug Isabel’s Aunt Lupita before they leave Mexico for a new life in the United States. The girl’s gradual adjustment is revealed through a series of letters sent to her much loved and dearly missed aunt. Soft line and richly hued illustrations echo Isabel’s experiences and emotions, including her special “quiet space” made of cardboard boxes.