With each new sculpture, the crowds grew and grew. The concluding pages see William carrying on in the footsteps of the Night Gardener as he creates his own topiary using the sheers left to him as a gift. As autumn comes and the leaves on the sculpted trees begin to fall, little remains of the topiaries, but, even though the residents of Grimloch Lane can no longer physically see the sculptures, their splendour endures forever in their hearts and brings positive change as they come to fully appreciate the beauty that surrounds them. At that time, William discovers a pair of gardening sheers left to him by the Night Gardener. Exhausted, William falls asleep under a tree only to awaken in the morning to families rushing into the park to view the newest topiaries. Forming an instant friendship with the man, William assists him in his evening work, and, together, they sculpt masterpiece after masterpiece under the moonlight. Curious, William follows the man into Grimloch Park where his prediction is confirmed – the mysterious stranger is indeed the magical Night Gardener. On his way home from the festivities centering around the latest dragon topiary, William notices an unfamiliar, elderly man walking along, toting a ladder over his shoulder. Over the following days, more and more topiary creations appear, including an enormous elephant, rabbit, parakeet, and even a colossal dragon whose majesty lures in members of the community to come experience its magnificence up close. When the morning comes, William discovers another topiary masterpiece in the neighbourhood, this time a gigantic cat. Captivated by the owl, William stares at it in wondrous awe throughout the day and goes to bed with much eagerness about what surprises the next day will bring. One morning, William awakens to observe a commotion in the streets below where the residents of Grimloch Lane have gathered to view a curbside tree which has been transformed overnight into a stunning topiary of a giant owl.
In the opening pages of The Night Gardener, readers are introduced to a young boy named William who resides at the local orphanage on Grimloch Lane. This initial publication for the Fan brothers is sure to be the first of many as the beautiful artwork and tender storyline will undoubtedly capture the hearts and imaginations of a new, widespread fan base. Upon first glance of the stunning dust jacket and cover art, anticipation instantly starts to build as one ponders the mystery and magic that awaits inside. The Night Gardener is an exquisitely illustrated picture book from Canadian brothers Terry and Eric Fan. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster (Distributed in Canada by Simon & Schuster), 2016.
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