In Abigail's garden

School Library Journal

Gr 1 Up This 12-poem anthology lacks a contents page and an index, almost disguising itself as a picture book. Nostalgic British lyrical verse combines with very prettified brightly-colored two-page spreads for each poem. Flowers cover border designs of patterened ribbons and flow onto drapes, plates, clothing, and wall and floor coverings. Many borders become part of the illustrations. Their mystical geometric symmetry looks slightly Persian. This finely detailed art blends well with the highly descriptive, quite adult excerpts from Shakespeare, Stevenson, and other garden poems. The thought-provoking lines are beyond most elementary children's comprehension. This makes the potential audience those seeking a Mother's Day gift for a grandmother rather than those who encourage children's enjoyment of poetry. Susan McCord, Boise Public Library, Idaho