Cassie Polimeni (text) and Briony Stewart (illustrator), The Garden at the End of the World, University Queensland Press, April 2023, 32 pp., RRP $24.99 (hbk), 9780702265693
At the end of the world is an island covered in ice.
On the island is a mountain.
Inside the mountain is a vault.
And inside the vault are millions of seeds.
Although The Garden at the End of the World is an illustrated fiction book, debut author Cassie Polimeni fills the story with fascinating facts written in a simple yet heart warming style.
Young Isla and her mother are deeply connected to the forest region where they live foraging for herbs and mushrooms daily. Isla stumbles across a seed pod and her mother tells her the story about the seed vault in Norway where millions of plant and flower seeds are preserved for future generations. And so, begins their journey to secure their forest seeds inside that same vault. There are colourful scenes of their arrival in Norway under the Northern Lights. Then onto how and where the treasured seeds are stored inside the vault. As Isla places them next to a variety of seeds all over the world, her face appears content that her seeds are safe for future generations. This would give great hope to children’s concerns for our planet’s future and any child experiencing climate change anxiety.
The artwork is bold and bright by award winning artist Briony Stewart, the creator of We Love You Magoo. I especially love the screen-printed end papers of plant and flower pressings in a striking white on blue palette.
The Garden at the End of the World is an encouraging and informative book for discussions on climate change and the environment for children 3-8 years and a wonderful addition to any school library.
Reviewed by Stef Gemmill
