While I like the colors, the illustrations are lacking something for me. The story is very simple and would make a nice “story time” read. The story also could use a bit “more” for me personally, yet I do think it is the perfect amount for the targeted audience.
Perhaps I have read too many spring and relaxing type of books as I did not find anything new with A Peaceful Garden. However, Lucy London and Christa Peirce do combine their talents creatively and they do compliment each other. Therefore, had this been one of my first reads, I think I could get “behind it more” than I am right now.
The story of two cats showing we readers how to choose seeds, dig holes, and water their plants to create their own peaceful garden. The publisher review says “comforting” text and that is the perfect way to describe it. I would also use that word for the illustrations, too. Yet, sometimes the illustrations are a bit bold to be completely comforting. However, they are not so hard to the eye that you are “assaulted” by them. You can read them without feeling bombarded.
I would give this as a first birthday gift up to age five. The child starting to read alone (or with help) could also get into it. I would like to see it in the lap-sized board book. I think the form of it would fit that format better than the traditional picture book. However, either way does work well. 