The Wall and the Wild
When Ana tries to take control by creating a perfect garden, she comes to realize that nature is inherently wild.
In a plot of land at the edge of town, Ana grows only perfectly sized plants and perfect-looking flowers; she throws all the irregular shoots and uneven seeds over the wall into the disorderly Wild. But as her garden gets tidier, neater and more constrained, the Wild begins to grow...
"A sweet, simple story about appreciating wildness in all its forms. This meditation on biodiversity makes its point with grace"--Kirkus Reviews
"This thoughtful tale of embracing biodiversity leaves plenty of room to open up insightful conversations with children into environmental stewardship and the many benefits of rewilding our gardens"--Ashley Nwokorie, Allotment Café
"Absolutely lovely. I love the way it gently demonstrates the importance of diversity in ecosystems (& communities) with wonderful bright illustrations of a flourishing and not-so-flourishing garden. I especially love the incidental inclusion of hearing aids on Ana, our gardener!"--Youth Libraries Group
"A wonderful picture book to help children learn about ecology and biodiversity and how through rewilding we can bring nature back to our gardens"--Babipur Book Club
Earn by promoting books
Earn money by sharing your favorite books through our Affiliate program.
Become an affiliate
Katie Rewse is an illustrator based on the south coast of the UK. She graduated from a Masters Degree in Illustration at the Arts University Bournemouth in 2017.
"At the edge of Stone Hollow, Ana grows a garden.
Unlike the wild, which edges her little plot, Ana's garden is tidy, neat, and orderly. She uses only the best seeds, tossing the discards into the wild. After planting, Ana builds a stone boundary designed to shelter her garden from the chaos beyond. Before long, her garden begins to grow, sprouting into gorgeous tall flowers and delicious fruits and vegetables. Pollinators and people come to visit. But while her visitors love the garden, Ana is still critical. She pulls out unfamiliar plants that have taken root and sorts through her seeds again, throwing everything she rejects into the wild. Then she builds her stone boundary even higher. Throughout the growing season, Ana perfects her garden and builds her wall ever higher. But the neater she makes her garden, the fewer visitors she sees--and the more she wonders whether tidiness and order ought to be her goals. Eventually, she decides to find out what's behind the wall. Her discovery astounds her. In this sweet, simple story about appreciating wildness in all its forms, the protagonist is pictured as a dark-skinned, black-haired girl with hearing aids. The language is clear and easy to read, and the vibrant illustrations drive the story just as much as the words.
This meditation on biodiversity makes its point with grace."--Kirkus Reviews
-- (6/16/2021 12:00:00 AM)
