Book Review: The Sprite and the Gardener by Rii Abrego & Joe Whitt

  • Source: I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway! Thanks, Oni Press!

  • My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (see my review on Goodreads)

As soon as I saw the beautiful cover and the title, I knew I wanted to read this book! I was thrilled when I actually won a physical copy in a Goodreads giveaway!

First of all, this is a nice BIG hardcover book, like you might expect a children's picture book to be. I really enjoyed getting to see the artwork in such large detail! The somewhat-muted-yet-bright color palette was consistent throughout the book and I think it fit the sweet, nostalgic mood of the story nicely. Though this book was pretty short, the message came across in a gentle and comforting way -- that it's nice to do things together, be kind to others, and nurture life. Wisteria was an adorable main character and I appreciated her desire to share her light with others, reminding her sprite kin of their ancestry. The Sprite and the Gardener inspired me to look at my own gardening with a little more connection to the earth and the magic all around me. As I tended to my plants the next dat, I couldn't help thinking about all the love and magic I was infusing into each one as I pruned the dead leaves, watered the roots, and talked to each one with love.

book reviewKelleygraphic novel, fiction