Alfie in the garden by Debi Gliori

An enthusiastic celebration of the imagination of the very young.

Bright colors, bold illustrations. The book opens with a question: "Can you see Alfie?"

"Yes, here he is! He is helping Mama-Bun in the garden."

Mama-Bun! Lovely word.

The kindly author does not keep her readers in suspense.

Sweet Alfie, lugging a watering-can almost as big as he is.

Now that the scene is established Debi Gliori takes us on a journey into the fantastical.

"Look! Alfie’s going exploring deep in the jungle."

The illustrations complete the thoughts: a bit of real, more of the fantastical. A google-eyed flying sea horse with dragon wings. A bear swinging on a vine. Jungle animals and everyday critters rub shoulders.

Absolutely possible, the young reader would say.

The story ramps up.

Alfie becomes a bouncing, pouncing lion. RAAAARRRR!

Then an elephant, the faithful watering-can his splishy-sploshy trunk.

Then a rainstorm: the watering-can sprinkling water: PITTER PATTER!

Then…slowing down. So much activity would tire anyone.

A soft summer breeze going SWISH-SWASH!

Alfie-Bird flies home. He has to "help Mama-Bun have a nap."

Alfie and Mama-Bun rest, as would the young reader, after all that activity.

What a very fun book to read over and over again.