De heksentuin

by Lidia Postma

Although they fear the woman who lives in the little red brick house, a group of children accept her invitation to share the secrets of her garden.

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1978

Reviews

[Capn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The little house stood back from the road in a strange, tangled garden, and the children were sure it was the home of a witch. When they met her, though, she seemed to be an ordinary, kindly old lady.
She showed them round the garden, and told them stories about the little people who lived there - the elves, gnomes and dwarves. Thomas was scornful: he believed only in what he could see. But soon even Thomas began to wonder, and if you look carefully at Lidia Postma's delicate, detailed paintings, you'll see why.
Lidia Postma is a brilliant young Dutch artist, whose exquisite children's books have been published throughout Europe and America as well as in Britain. The Witch's Garden, with its enchanting story and richly detailed illustrations, is a book to be treasured by young and old alike.

Story is a 2 or 3. Thomas is aptly named (hopefully not too much of a spoiler there), even at the end of 'story', which is very short and doesn't really address some key contextual points, I feel. This is an all-about-the-artwork 'story', which I'm comparing to any of Gerda Muller's books, or Margaret Mahy's "The Wind Between the Stars", and I've forgotten the name of the talented man who did the art for that one (on app, so can't link). But that was far more lyrical and wonderous, whereas this is... pat. Nothing wrong with the story, but I'm betting all the pith of it was tragically lost in translation.
Rating it a 3 because it's currently 4.27, and I think that's too high.
Bought this secondhand, paying a little more than usual for a picture book of this age. Will look into more of Postma's books, because she clearly is a wizard with watercolours, but I can't especially recommend tracking down this one unless you're a super fan of hers.

[mr.fantasy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic childrens picture-book illustrated by Lidia Postma, printed in Belgium (copyright - Rotterdam [Netherlands] 1978) and picked up and distributed by a few publishers including McGraw-Hill for the US in 1979---the year my dad bought a copy. A childhood favorite of my sister and I, the book is illustrated with incredible and finely detailed colored pencils of the highest fine art quality.

A couple very minor (emphasis) art samples of some of the children characters (to post more would be spoiler to the magic this book holds):
http://i.imgur.com/uN8HHJu.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Tp9josV.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/j1LfXAm.jpg

Postma was a Dutch freelance illustrator living in Amsterdam at the time who writes a thoughtful story for children that could be said to express the following themes: freedom from fear; power of imagination; connection and observance of nature; the "magic" that is dispelling ignorance and the superficial, while at the same instilling a sense of validity in faith or questioning both the seen and unseen.

It's a short book with beautiful and lush art and one that merges with a small story in its brevity as a distilled near masterwork and elixir, perfect for a rainy day reading or bedtime story.

Once boundaries crossed where a Flemish book found its way into a young Midwestern boy's hands and mind.

"Ozea--weazewoze
Weazewalla
Kristalla
Krist--pzeaweazewoze
Weazeweazeweesweeswees--"

Great to read and introduce little people to the magic of books. Influential, remembered, and fondly re-read as a now adult and enthusiast of the many varied forms of Art and literacy. Impressed with its underyling content, simplicity and top-tier artwork.

Beyond my own diary thoughts and heavy analysis, it's a super-easy read for youngsters to enjoy, comprehend, and likewise remember. Designed for reading to them and letting them absorb and savor the imagery.

[Nandi]

My most favorite book of all time!!

[Mir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Neighborhood children decide to play a trick on a solitary old woman believed to be a witch, but they are the ones who get a surprise.