April’s Garden
Isla McGuckin and Catalina Echeverri
Graffeg

It is evident from the lack of bright colour in Catalina Echeverri’s first three spreads, that April is feeling downcast, living with her mum in a room in temporary accommodation. There is a garden – something Mum refers to as contributing to the ‘silver lining’ she keeps talking about, but it always seems to be raining, making her daughter feel even more confined.

When Mamma suggests drawing the garden of her dreams, April creates a colourful scene.
Eventually the rain stops and April heads outside for some fresh air, but it’s not long before down comes more rain so in she goes, to learn that attached to the magazines the neighbour ladies have given them. are some packets of seeds.

Despite the rain, April heads back outside with the seed packets and some cups. She plants the seeds and goes back inside. Then comes a long, long wait during which April, despite Mum’s words of wisdom – “Lovely things are just around the corner,” – feels more and more dejected. She rushes out into the garden to give vent to her emotions, after which she feels slightly less angry.

Some months later, it’s time for the two of them to move to their new home, With them they take all the cups with the seeds April had planted and joy of joys, she notices in them something is starting to sprout.

Finally, after several weeks, beautiful flowers are blooming in every cup: at last April is filled with happiness.

Hope is key in this moving, superbly and sensitively told and illustrated story of the healing power of nature, finding solace in the seeds and renewal.