My Baba’s Garden

K-Gr 4–From the brilliant pair that created I Talk Like a River comes a beautiful tale of family and the love shared between a child and grandparent. A young boy is lucky enough to spend time with Baba, his Polish grandmother, every day before and after school. While they do not share much in the way of a spoken language, they have an understanding and bond that goes much deeper. Baba has taught the young child to appreciate food, gardens, and the unique gift of worms. Knowing that Baba suffered much in Poland before coming to British Columbia, her grandson absorbs her lessons, and when she comes to live in his house, he carries on her wisdom when roles are reversed. Gorgeous illustrations brim with emotional use of dappled light and color; wordless passages evoke the emotional ties and trust between these two characters. This is outstanding storytelling in a marvelous picture book that deserves a place in all collections.