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This gem of a story by Hawaiian-born Emily Hughes is a celebration of life and the human spirit, inspiring for all ages. The little gardener is a story about a tiny boy as big as a thumb and the seemingly insurmountable task of his passion to grow a garden. Tenderly told with vibrant illustrations, this charming and triumphant story is an allegory for purpose, for anyone fighting an uphill battle. |
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"This was the garden. It didn't look like much, but it meant everything to its gardener. It was his home. It was his supper. It was his joy." |
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The little gardener approaches gardening with joy and he works hard unfortunately he is not “much good at gardening” and is “just too little”. |
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Despite these setbacks, the little gardener’s labor results in one plant blossoming. |
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"It was a flower. It was alive and wonderful. It gave the gardener hope and made him want to work even harder." |
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The gardener works day and night, determinedly taming his jungle of a garden. |
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Even though he worked and toiled the land, the garden starts to die, jeopardizing the gardener’s home, supper and joy. |
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One night, when the gardener is feeling particularly hopeless, he wishes upon the night sky. He wishes for help so that he could save his garden. |
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"No one heard his little voice, but someone saw his flower. It was alive and wonderful. It gave the someone hope. It made the someone want to work harder." |
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After he makes his wish the gardener falls into a deep slumber, sleeping for days, weeks, a month. |
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While the gardener rests, his single success inspires a girl. Enchanted by the flower she begins tending the rest of the garden. |
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The gardener awakens to a transformed garden, blooming with foliage, flowers, and vegetables. |
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"This is the garden now. And this is its gardener. He doesn't look like much, but he means everything to his garden." |
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| h/t: brainpickings |
