If you ever wanted to know more about gardening, Secret Gardeners: Growing a Community and Healing the Earth by Maija Hurme and Linda Laurent, translated by Sofia Karlsson & Jen Pulju Porter is the book for you.

Part fiction, part non-fiction and the perfect story for readers who want to heal the Earth. Luna, Bianca and Billy are spies. When they discover an abandoned lot, they go and check it out discovering Amy who is gardening. This sets off a whimsical story of discovery.

While not featuring Canadian creators, originally published and translated in Sweden, this book was brought to Canada by Pajama Press Inc, a small independent Canadian press so I still wanted to share it with you all. What an incredible book. You know my favourite books can pull double duty and this book is part story and part gardening guide so there is something for everyone within the pages. 

The story is on the longer side so a book for older readers, especially once you delve into the non fiction content throughout. There are many, many notes throughout the pages with information about gardening and step by step instructions about how readers can create their own spaces to grow things. This book is packed with information and really inspired me to want to get my hands dirty and plant some delicious things for myself and the critters in my community.

The illustrations by Maija Hurme are whimsical and dreamy, transporting readers to wild spaces and creating the feeling of being outside on a warm spring day. The illustrations will inspire readers to do some planting of their own or encourage the grownups in their lives to get things growing.

I love that this book could be used in a science classroom or in a home to inspire and further teach about the importance of taking care of the Earth, being responsible in our planting and creating beautiful spaces.