The Secret Garden [Hardcover]

Frances Hodgson Burnett (Author), Mary Collier (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

When orphanedMary Lennox, lonely and sad, comes to live at her uncle's great, empty house, she has nothing to do an no one to play with. Then a friendly robin shows her the way to a mysterious garden that has been locked up for years. Mary is determined to bring the secret garden back to life and, along the way, finds good friends and discovers the magic of making things grow.

Frances Hodgson Burnett's The Secret Garden has been loved by generations of children since its first publication in 1912. Now, for the first time, young readers can unlock the mystery of the secret garden with this very special picture book, adapted form Burnett's classic work. Mary Collier's rich, glorious paintings, inspired by the original novel, bring all the magic and wonder of the secret garden glowingly to life.

Editorial Reviews

From Kirkus Reviews

In this bad version of a bad idea, the richly developed classic novel has been squeezed into the picture-book format. Resembling the bald summary of an opera plot, the story in its reduced state is all but a clich: An orphaned girl finds a neglected garden and a neglected cousin and restores them both with the aid of the housemaid's young brother. Collier's full-color paintings take advantage of the opportunities for flora and fauna as the garden responds to cultivation and to the turning seasons, but the children's figures seem pasted into the space, and the scenes lack warmth. (Picture book. 4-8) -- Copyright ©1998, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Frances Hodgson Burnett (1849-1924) grew up in England, but she began writing what was to become The Secret Garden in 1909, when she was creating a garden for a new home in Long Island, New York.Burnett was already established as a novelist for adults when she turned to writing for children.Little Lord Fauntleroy, written for her two young boys; the play A Little Princess, which became the basis for the novel of the same name; and The Secret Garden are the works for which she is most warmly remembered.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (May 8, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060278536
• ISBN-13: 978-0060278533
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,170,940 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best books ever written., January 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Secret Garden (Hardcover)

I first read The Secret Garden many years ago. I loved it then and I still love it now. I believe it is one of the best children's books ever written. It combines fantasy, mystery, and history with a wonderfull plot. No matter how old I am when I read it, or how long it has been since I last read it, I enjoy it imensely. I strongly recomend buying it or borrowing it from your library. The Secret Garden certainly is a true classic.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Miss Green's Class, Lee Elementary School in Azusa, CA, October 5, 2004

By 

Cindy Green (Southern California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Secret Garden (Hardcover)

This book has beautiful, colorful pictures. We liked the surprises and mysteries and wish we could be friends with the characters in the book. The book shows that you must be a friend to have a friend.

0 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars OK., June 7, 2005

By 

Godzilla "Christopher" (Chesapeake Beach,MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Secret Garden (Hardcover)

This was an OK book. I read this book in my literature class and it was as I said: OK. I don't reccomend you getting this book but don't don't reccomend you getting this book. (You know what I'm saying)? Any way...... It was OK.