This is a beautiful story told in rhyme about restoring the natural environment. The town is all concrete with no plants or trees. When a crack appears in the concrete, seeds are dropped by birds, the wind blows in seeds and plants begin to grow. The town is renewed with plants, trees and gardens and animals that come to make their homes in the new growth. A magical story that could be used when studying the environment and habitats. The illustrations are beautiful and add so much to the story. A great addition to any library: home, school, classroom or public. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley ( )

Ghigna's The Night the Forest Came to Town is a children's tale in verse about one magical evening when a spring wind blew seeds down into a grey town. Over the course of the night, rain showers set the plants to flourishing, and animals arrive, to build nests and dams. Come morning, the town is no longer grey, but a riot of colour and greenery.

I read this with my cubs, and they loved it. I myself enjoyed the poetry, though the whimsy of the tale was somewhat lost by my own understanding as an archaeologist, of how nature actually reclaims towns, in that they are usually abandoned… Otherwise, this story had a somewhat sinister note for me. A horror story akin to The Happening. Just me, I know. And I know the point of the story is we shouldn't try to eradicate nature from our cities. That life will always find a way. The children in the story seemed happier with the flourishing nature, and to notice it more. There's one adult dude always on his phone. But come morning, the adults can't help but notice.

***Many thanks to Netgalley and Orca Books for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. ( )