The Imaginary Garden
Written by Andrew Larsen; Illustrated by Irene Luxbacher

Theo’s grandfather has moved into an apartment where he has no garden and it is too windy on the balcony to grow his beloved flowers.  Thos’s suggestion that they create an imaginary garden “blossoms,” page by page, into a full-blown painting in a corner of the balcony.  Theo has to tap her own inventive powers to finish the garden when her Poppa goes on a trip, and the result is stunning.  Illustrator Luxbacher’s gorgeous colors over whimsical pen-and-ink drawings complement the sweet text composed by Larsen.

Biographical Sketches:
Andrew Larsen was born in Montreal, and currently lives in Toronto with his wife, Esther, and their two children. As a stay-at-home dad, he began making up stories for and about his children, which in turn led to writing children’s books.  Andrew visits schools and libraries to teach and talk with children, encouraging them to write their own stories.

Born and raised in Toronto, Irene Luxbacher holds a degree in Art History and studied art at Emily Carr College of Art and Design.  An art teacher at Avenue Road Arts School for many years, she has also led visual arts workshops in Toronto public schools. In addition to illustrating The Imaginary Garden, Irene has written and illustrated eight children’s art activity books and one picture book.  She says that “making visual arts an easy, fun and accessible educational tool” continues to be an important personal goal. 

Suggested Activities:
1.  Make a class mural with watercolors over pen-and-ink to create gardens or other scenes.
2.  Discuss the difference between living in a city and in the country or suburb where there is more land and room for gardens.  Have children talk about whether they have gardens at home, and graph the results.
3.  Watch real flowers grow.  Plant fast-growing flowers such as nasturtiums or sunflowers.  Measure them from day to day or week to week and compare heights, number of leaves, etc.
4.  Use as a writing prompt:  “In my imaginary garden I will plant…”  Let the ideas be as outlandish as the children wish.

5.  Connect this book to other books about the imagination, such as Harold and the Purple Crayon.  How are they alike?  What problem or problems does each book try to solve?

6.  Invite grandparents in to talk about whether they had gardens growing up, whether they still do, what they plant in their gardens, etc.

7.  Explore the relationship between seed, flower and fruit.  Do all flowers become fruits?

8.  Sing songs about gardening such as “Inch by Inch” by Dave Mallett, or “Oats, Peas, Beans.”

9.  Investigate and compare artists who have represented gardens or flowers, such as Monet and Matisse.  Try to paint, collage, etc. in each artist’s style.

Companion Books:
Bunting, Eve.  Sunflower House.  Illustrated by Kathryn Hewitt.  Harcourt, 1996.
Carle, Eric.  The Tiny Seed.  Simon and Schuster, 1991.
Cole, Henry.  Jack’s Garden.  Greenwillow Books, 1997.
Ehlert, Lois.  Planting a Rainbow.  Harcourt, 1988.
Fleischman, Paul.  Weslandia.  Illustrated by Kevin Hawkes.  Candlewick, 1999.
Krauss, Ruth.  The Carrot Seed.  Illustrated by Crockett Johnson.  HarperCollins, 2004.   McLerran, Alice.  Roxaboxen.  Illustrated by Barbara Cooney.  HarperCollins, 1991.Nolen, Jerdine.  Plantzilla.  Illustrated by David Catrow.  Harcourt, 2002.
Portis, Antoinette.  Not a Box.  HarperCollins, 2006.     
Portis, Antoinette.  Not a Stick.  HarperCollins, 2007.     
Richards, Jean.  A Fruit is a Suitcase for Seeds.  Illustrated by Anca Hariton.  First Avenue Editions, 2006.
Rockwell, Anne.  One Bean.  Illustrated by Megan Halsey.  Walker Books, 1999.
Stevens, Janet.  Tops and Bottoms.  Harcourt, 1995.
Stewart, Sarah.  The Gardener.  Illustrated by David Small.  Farrar, Strauss & Giroux, 1997.

Books written by Andrew Larsen:
Bella and the Bunny.  Illustrated by Kate Endle.  Kids Can Press, 2007.

Books written and  illustrated by Irene Luxbacher:
123, I Can Collage!  Kids Can Press, 2009.
123, I Can Draw!  Kids Can Press, 2008.
123, I Can Paint!  Kids Can Press, 2007.
The Jumbo Book of Art.  Kids Can Press, 2003.
The Jumbo Book of Outdoor Art.  Kids Can Press, 2006.
Mattoo, Let’s Play!  Kids Can Press, 2010.

Websites:
The artist’s website: www.ireneluxbacher.com

The National Gardening Association’s website for teaching children about gardening: www.kidsgardening.com

A website for finding out about artists and their work, along with lesson plans: www.kinderart.com/arthistory