Sue Heazlewood | Tails of Tangleby Gardens

Tails of Tangleby Gardens' is visually stunning combination, bringing together a story book for young readers and a recipe book for young cooks. The story begins as Marmalade, a rabbit character, organizes a huge birthday party for her husband, Montgomery, attended by his extended family. Food is important of course. 'There was fairy bread, fruit skewers, muffins and a big tub of homemade strawberry ice cream.' The party is interrupted by the arrival of a large yellow digger which destroys the warren. Marmalade and Montgomery have to find a new home. A pair of skylarks, Skye and Lark lead them to Tangleby, where they set up their new home in the playhouse, bringing in their rescued belongings, 'lots of cooking pots, tins, aprons and recipe books.' Two mice from Southland, Vincent and Violet move into the three-story dolls' house. Other animals join them at Tangleby, including Monica the monarch butterfly and Hemi, Fleur and Finn the frogs. Each chapter presents a new challenge to be dealt with. Two magpies bully the creatures and steal their food but an act of kindness makes them change their ways, so they become useful by dealing with the slugs damaging the garden plants. Montgomery is swept away in a flood but is rescued by Leo the next-door poodle in his helicopter. When spring arrives, so do baby rabbits and mice and skylarks. Naturally this is celebrated with a picnic on the lawn. A pair of Southland hedgehogs arrive to act as teachers (and pass on the secret of cheese rolls). There are colour illustrations on every page, the work of Jane Smith, an artist and designer, who has succeeded brilliantly in creating the various animals, dressing them appropriately and fitting them together in scale.