The Last Garden
Illustrated by Anneli Bray
Hodder Children's Books
The Last Garden follows the story of a little girl who tends the last garden in a war-torn city. As the city breaks, everyone is forced to leave and soon the girl must leave her beautiful garden behind. Whilst the garden is left alone, its seeds scatter throughout the city and roots begin to take hold.
Slowly, as people return, the city begins to bloom again, and the girl comes home to her garden.
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"It’s so exciting to see two new talents come together to create something so special. Movingly illustrated, this thoughtful and tender story of hope touches on timely issues of conflict and migration."
Emma Layfield, Group Picture Book Publisher, Hachette Children’s Group ​
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The Last Garden was inspired by war gardens around the world. Find out more about the real gardens behind the story.
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Awards
Winner: 2021 SCBWI Crystal Kite Award, Middle East, India, Asia
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Longlist: 2021 Klaus Flugge Prize
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Resources
Explore lesson resources connected to themes of conflict and migration
Introduce children to the topics of migration, war and the power of nature and gardens throughout history in a gentle, hopeful way with The Last Garden. These resources guide you through the picture book, with suggested questions, classroom activities and additional resources on the key topics.
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This video talks about the work of the Royal Horticultural Society and the Lemon Tree Trust. A hundred years on from providing seeds to WWI prisoners of war, the Lemon Tree Trust worked with the RHS to supply seeds to Syrian refugees in Domiz camp, Kurdistan region of Iraq:
War Gardeners: A 100 year history of supporting POWs and refugees through seeds
