SPARROW'S EASTER GARDEN

Sparrow spends the 40 days of Lent reviving his garden.

The young bird who, along with friends Turtle, Mousie, and Buck, was introduced in the tale Sparrow’s Prayer (2023), returns. With only 40 days to go before Easter, our hero has plenty of work to do to transform his “disaster” of a garden. He and his pals work steadily, clearing out the dead plants, tilling the soil, carefully sowing seeds, and transplanting old growth to new locations. Holy Week is gloomy, culminating with a bad storm on Good Friday, but Buck cheers the others up: “Easter is a promise of new life!” And so it is; together, the friends rejoice in the flowers that bloom by Easter morning. Hutchison’s gracefully written text reads aloud well, and Sparrow and his friends each emerge with distinct characteristics. Jatkowska’s gentle illustrations reflect the story’s upbeat tone. Her personified animals are generally cheerful as they go about their work; their expressive faces display concern as the skies darken and dismay at the results of the disastrous storm. A particularly effective spread shows a cutaway view of the growing plants and flowers, with worms and bugs and a smiling mole tunneling away amid the swelling roots. The colors brighten as the story and the season progresses.

An appealing representation of the Lenten period to share with young children.