The Garden Surprise

Gr 2-5–Stuck at home in their small apartments for the summer, best friends Nour and August are looking for something to keep boredom at bay. They decide, without permission, to embark on a nighttime escapade riding an old beat-up bike that August has acquired, and together find a hole in a fence leading to a hidden and forgotten garden. The two quickly decide to make it their own secret hideaway and begin planning their dream treehouse. They will need tools and permission to achieve this dream, however, and their initial impulses are to mislead their grown-ups about where they are and what they are doing and to borrow things without asking. August helps himself to some items belonging to a nearby construction site, arguing they won’t be missed. Once their secrets are discovered, Nour seems to see the error of their ways; it is unclear if August does. But with the help of their family and friends, they are able to complete their project and invite everyone to a celebratory birthday party in their new garden. In addition to a variety of scientific and engineering facts, the story touches on thematic elements, such as friendship, honesty, and self-reliance, and includes a diverse cast of characters. August is cued as white, and Nour with light tan skin has ancestors of North African descent. Full-color illustrations sprinkled throughout enhance the story.