Night Gardener, The

William lives in an orphanage in a dreary, grey town, but one morning he wakes to see the tree outside his window has been transformed into the shape of an owl. As each day a different topiary animal appears, the town celebrates the masterpieces and slowly starts fixing up their town. One night William spies a man with a ladder and discovers he is the night gardener and William helps him create more fantastic animals and their efforts change both William and the town forever! The transformations of the trees into animals will enchant primary students and can launch discussions of the transformation of neighbourhoods and forming relationships in communities. Beautiful, soft illustrations enhance the story.