"Noah's Garden"
by Paddy Johnson
(Felt Tip on Paper)
2005
What is the book about?
Noah's Garden is a picture book about a little boy named Noah who is living with his parents in a hospital while his baby sister, Jessica is dangerously ill.
As the months roll on, Noah spends a lot of his time in the hospital garden becoming increasingly frustrated by the fact that Jessica can't play with him.
In the meantime, he uses his imagination to have adventures there. Will Jess ever make it to Noah's Garden?
Where did the idea come from?
In 2005 we travelled to Melbourne to spend a weekend with our friends Paul and Elese and their children Noah and Jessica at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne.
Four months before, Jessica had been born there with a congenital heart condition known as Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS). The story of Jessica's condition and fight for life can be accessed at http://families.hearts-of-hope.org/jessica
During our visit we spent time in the Peter Rabbit Garden, which was clearly a place of refuge for many people in the hospital.
Despite the turmoil, my friends and their children remained resilient and their story has had a happy ending.
This picture book celebrates the power of the imagination, the resilience of a very special family and the skill of the medics who care for sick children in all cities, especially those who fought with Jess at RCH Melbourne. It also pays tribute to the importance of hospital gardens all over the world and the people who tend them.
Who is illustrating Noah's Garden?
Annabelle and Mo at the launch of Boofheads in September 2008
Noah's Garden is being illustrated by the fabulous Annabelle Josse.
Below is a pirate scene from Noah's Garden. Click on the image to see it larger.
