Lovely illustrations!! ( )

Pandora the fox lived alone in a land of broken things. Although she fixed what she could, and built herself a cozy home, she never had any visitors. Then one day an injured bird fell to earth, and in the process of nursing him back to health, she gained a companion. When the bird leaves, Pandora is heartbroken, until the many gifts he has brought during his convalescence begin to bear fruit, and the land of broken things is transformed into a vibrant and beautiful garden...

Gorgeous pencil and watercolor artwork is paired with a poignant story about friendship, letting wild things be wild, and the transformative power of nature in British author/artist Victoria Turnbull's Pandora. I was reminded in turn of Australian Bob Graham's picture-book How To Heal a Broken Wing, with its message of compassion, and of American Pete Brown's The Curious Garden, with its story of urban renewal through the creation of green spaces and gardens. Both of these themes are present in Turnbull's tale, but so too is a deeper theme of loneliness and the longing for companionship and love. A lovely, lovely book, one I would recommend to anyone looking for beautifully illustrated picture-books, or for children's stories addressing issues of loneliness, friendship, and caring for and healing the natural world. ( )